The New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers played one of the most exciting series of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. They met in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Knicks won the series 4-0. This was a big moment for New York. The team reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
A Quick Look at the Series
The Knicks beat the Cavaliers in four straight games. This is called a sweep. Here is the final result of each game:
- Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104 (Overtime)
- Game 2: Knicks 109, Cavaliers 93
- Game 3: Knicks 121, Cavaliers 108
- Game 4: Knicks 130, Cavaliers 93
The Knicks won three of the four games by double digits. This shows how strong their team played during the whole series. Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ point guard, was named the MVP of the series. He averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game across the four matchups.
Now let’s break down each game and look closely at the player stats.
Game 1: A Wild Comeback
Game 1 took place at Madison Square Garden on May 19. This was one of the most memorable games of the whole playoff run. The Cavaliers led by 22 points in the fourth quarter. Most fans thought the game was over. But Jalen Brunson had other plans.
Brunson attacked the Cavaliers’ defense again and again. He targeted James Harden on almost every possession. The Knicks went on an 18-1 run to tie the game late in regulation. Brunson finished with 38 points, which was his best scoring output of the series. The game went into overtime, and the Knicks pulled away to win 115-104.
Here are the top player stats from Game 1:
New York Knicks
- Jalen Brunson: 38 points
- Karl-Anthony Towns: double-double performance
- The Knicks shot 47.7% from the field and grabbed 47 rebounds as a team
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Donovan Mitchell: 29 points and 6 steals
- Evan Mobley: 15 points and 14 rebounds
- James Harden: 15 points, but he struggled from three-point range, making just 1 of 8 attempts, and had 6 turnovers
This comeback was one of the biggest in NBA playoff history over the last 30 years. Only the Los Angeles Clippers had a bigger fourth-quarter comeback, when they came back from 24 points down against Memphis in 2012.
Game 2: Josh Hart Steps Up
Game 2 was also played at Madison Square Garden on May 21. This time, the Knicks controlled the game from start to finish. They won 109-93 and took a 2-0 lead in the series.
The star of this game was Josh Hart. He had been quiet in Game 1, but he came alive in Game 2. Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points. He also grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 7 assists. He shot 10 of 21 from the field, including 5 of 11 from three-point range.
Jalen Brunson had a slow start, scoring only 2 points in the first half. But he came back strong in the second half and finished with 19 points and a playoff career-high 14 assists, against just 3 turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns also had a strong game, recording 18 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double.
Here is a full look at the top stats from Game 2:
New York Knicks
- Josh Hart: 26 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
- Jalen Brunson: 19 points, 14 assists
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 18 points, 13 rebounds
- Mikal Bridges: 19 points
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Donovan Mitchell: 26 points, 4 rebounds
- James Harden: 18 points, 6 rebounds, but only 6 of 15 shooting from the field
The Knicks also kept attacking James Harden on defense in this game. It worked well again, as Cleveland was outscored by 22 points during his 32 minutes on the court.
Game 3: Brunson Takes Over in Cleveland
The series moved to Cleveland for Game 3, played on May 23. The Knicks kept their strong form and won 121-108. This gave them a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
Jalen Brunson was the top scorer once again, putting up 30 points. Mikal Bridges added 22 points, and OG Anunoby scored 21 points. This balanced scoring made it very hard for the Cavaliers to focus their defense on just one player.
On the Cavaliers’ side, Evan Mobley had a strong game with 24 points. But it was not enough to stop New York’s offense, which was averaging over 122 points per game during this stretch of the playoffs.
Top stats from Game 3:
New York Knicks
- Jalen Brunson: 30 points
- Mikal Bridges: 22 points
- OG Anunoby: 21 points
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Evan Mobley: 24 points
After this game, the Knicks had won 10 straight playoff games. This was one of the best playoff runs in franchise history, and fans in New York started to believe a trip to the NBA Finals was close.
Game 4: The Sweep Is Complete
Game 4 happened on May 25 in Cleveland. This was the game that sent the Knicks to the NBA Finals. New York played a dominant game from start to finish and won 130-93. The 37-point win completed a four-game sweep of the series.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 19 points and 14 rebounds. OG Anunoby added 17 points. Landry Shamet came off the bench and scored 16 points, giving the Knicks extra scoring power beyond their starters. Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson each added 15 points.
For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell had the best game of the series for his team, scoring 31 points. But Cleveland could not keep up with the Knicks’ pace and lost by a wide margin.
Top stats from Game 4:
New York Knicks
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 19 points, 14 rebounds
- OG Anunoby: 17 points
- Landry Shamet: 16 points (off the bench)
- Mikal Bridges: 15 points
- Jalen Brunson: 15 points
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Donovan Mitchell: 31 points
With this win, the Knicks became the fourth team in NBA history to have an 11-game winning streak during a single postseason run. The last team to do this was the Golden State Warriors, who had a 15-game streak on their way to the 2017 title.
Series Player Stats Summary
If we look at the whole series, a few players stand out clearly.
Jalen Brunson was the most consistent and dangerous player on the court. He averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game. His performance in Game 1, when he scored 38 points and led the comeback, was the turning point of the entire series. He earned the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award for his effort.
Donovan Mitchell was Cleveland’s top player throughout the series. He scored 29, 26, and 31 points in three of the four games. Even though his team lost, Mitchell kept fighting and gave Cavaliers fans some bright moments.
Karl-Anthony Towns was steady all series long, picking up two double-doubles and providing strong rebounding for New York.
Josh Hart gave the Knicks a huge lift in Game 2 with his playoff career-high scoring night.
Evan Mobley was Cleveland’s best big man, showing good scoring and rebounding numbers, especially in Games 1 and 3.
Why This Series Mattered
This was not just any playoff series. For the Knicks, it meant a return to the NBA Finals after 27 long years. New York fans had waited since 1999 for this moment. Head coach Mike Brown guided the team through the toughest part of the playoffs, and the players stepped up when it counted the most.
For the Cavaliers, this series was a tough end to a strong season. It was the first time since the 2018 NBA Finals that Cleveland was swept in a playoff series. Coach Kenny Atkinson said his team believed they played better than the results showed in parts of the series, but missed shots and mistakes at key moments cost them the games.
After this series, the Knicks went on to face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. New York won the championship 4-1, giving the franchise its first title since 1973. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP as well, capping off an incredible playoff run.
Final Thoughts
The Knicks vs Cavaliers series was full of great individual performances and team effort. Jalen Brunson’s leadership and scoring stood out the most, but players like Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges all played big roles in the sweep. On the Cavaliers’ side, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley fought hard, but it was not enough to stop a Knicks team that was playing its best basketball in decades.
This series will be remembered as a key moment in Knicks history. It showed the power of teamwork, strong coaching, and never giving up, even when things look bad, just like in that stunning Game 1 comeback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who had the best stats in the Knicks vs Cavaliers series?
Jalen Brunson had the best overall stats for the Knicks. He averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game and was named the series MVP. For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell had the best numbers, scoring at least 26 points in three of the four games.
What was the final score of the Knicks vs Cavaliers series?
The New York Knicks won the series 4-0. They won Game 1 115-104 in overtime, Game 2 109-93, Game 3 121-108, and Game 4 130-93.
Did the Knicks win the NBA Finals after beating the Cavaliers?
Yes. After sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks went on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. This gave New York its first NBA championship since 1973, and Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP.
