For the third time in the new millennium, the Knicks manage to pass the first round of the playoffs – by beating the Cavaliers for the second time at home and thus closing in five games a series that was imagined more fought. That was not the case, with New York’s defense holding an 11-of-26 shooting Donovan Mitchell to just 28 points, while there are 21 with four assists for Darius Garland and 17 for Caris LeVert – in a three-guard format that didn’t work.
What made the difference instead were the six double-digit players at the Knicks, with Jalen Brunson enjoying the 23 points put on the scoresheet and celebrated by Rick’s son in art who over 20 years had worn the jersey of the team New York. Julius Randle’s injury doesn’t even weigh on the fate of a match controlled by the guests – still aching in his left ankle and forced to retire in the middle of the match. The impact of RJ Barrett was also positive: 21 points with 7/13 shooting.