The only away win in the first day of the playoffs, the success of the Knicks overturns the home court factor in the series against Cleveland and now already puts Mitchell and his companions on the ropes. The blue-orange masterpiece bears the signature of the usual Jalen Brunson, top scorer of his, but it would not have been possible without the return to the field of Julius Randle and the decisive plays of Josh Hart.
THE USUAL BRUNSON | It’s not fair to take for granted a 27-point game in the playoffs, much less if it’s the first in the Knicks jersey, but this only underlines the consistency of performance of a player like Jalen Brunson, who by now has got everyone used to being among the protagonists of New York businesses. Cleveland’s on-field victory made no difference, with the former Villanova player capable of scoring 21 of his 27 points in the second half when the game was decided.
THE RETURN OF RANDLE | He had twisted his left ankle on March 29 against Miami. He hadn’t played since then, but Tom Thibodeau had few doubts: “We all know that Julius is someone who is ready to give everything he has inside. Before his injury he had played 77 games. He is like this: if he can take the field, he wants take the field”. And he certainly couldn’t miss the Cavs’ playoff debut.
THE MOST IMPORTANT BALL OF THE MATCH | Julius Randle’s hands were the ones capable of getting first on the most important ball of the match. With the Knicks up 99-97 with less than 10 seconds left, Brunson’s missed jumper could give the Cavs one last possession. Instead, the rebound caught Randle, ready to reopen for Quentin Grimes, then sent to the line to close the accounts with a 2/2. The victory in New York bears the signature of Randle.
REBOUND DOMAIN | Along with the 19 points Randle also closed in double figures in rebounds, at 11: 11 of the 51 captured by the Knicks, who swept away their opponents under the scoreboards (+13 rebounds, 51-38). The Knicks in particular were excellent in recovering offensive linebacks: in addition to Randle’s decisive one, Mitchell Robinson caught 5 of the 8 total of his evening.
WOW JOSH HART! | Five offensive rebounds from a 2.13 center may be there, but five offensive rebounds from a 1.92 guard is a real feat. However, it is less surprising if Josh Hart, who has always been one of the best rebounding guards in the entire NBA, accomplishes this feat. This year only three players (Tatum, Doncic and Giddey) have done better than his 7.8 rebounds average with which he finished the season.
THE TRIPLE DECISIVE AT THE DEBUT | But in Hart’s game (in double-double at 17+10, with 7 points scored in the fourth quarter) there are not only rebounds. The former Blazers player shot 8/11 from the field and above all put his signature on the game-winning three-pointer scored with 1:49 to play in the fourth quarter, after just twisting his ankle. And to think that it was the first playoff game of his career.
THE BENCH | Thanks to Hart’s contribution, but not only, another reason behind the success of the Knicks on the Cavs field was the performance of coach Thibodeau’s bench. The account is 37-14 clearly in favor of the blue-orange if you look at the points produced by the reserves, with Obi Toppin at 9 with 3/4 shooting and Isaiah Hartenstein at 8 with 2/3 excellent protagonists (in addition to the 17 signed by Hart).