Photo: Michael Henriquez – NY Beacon
Madison Square Garden
By Andrew Rosario
OG Leads Knicks ln Win Over Cavs
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
When the New York Knicks hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden to open up the 2026-2026 They were coming off 2 straight 50+ winning seasons. Injuries derailed the 2023 season losing in 7 games to the lndiana Pacers. The Pacers took them out last year in 6 games costing head coach Tom Thibodeau his job to the surprise of many. After the organization threw out feelers to head coaches who were under contracts, the team settled for Mike Brown. The Pacers will be without their star Tyrese Halliburton who underwent off season Achilles tendon surgery. The same for Boston’s Jayson Tatum although the team and Tatum are holding out hope he could return late in the season. The Knicks were without guard Josh Hart (strained back) and center Mitchell Robinson (load management). Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (strained toe) and guard/forward Max Strus (foot strain) did not suit up. The prevailing sentiment, given the injuries to both Halburton and Tatum is that the New sYork Knicks, if they stay healthy have a good shot at representing the East making it to the NBA Finals for the first time since the strike shortened 1998-1999 Finals.
They got off to a good start a taking a first quarter 10 point lead (33-23) led by Mikel Bridges 10 points while OG Anunoby chipped in 7. Cavs Evan Mobley led his team with 8 points. New York extended their lead to 15 in the second quarter (42-27) after 2 Karl-Anthony Towns free throws. Cleveland Then went on a run of their own out scoring the Knicks 16-2 cutting the lead to 1 at 44-43. New York righted themselves going on a 21-7 run taking a 65-50 halftime lead. Anunoby, Towns and Jalen Brunson scored 12 points while Miles “Duece” McBride added 9 off the bench. Mobley finished the half with 16 and Larry Nance, Jr pitch in 8 off the bench for Cleveland.
The third quarter turned into the Donovan Mitchell show. After scoring 8 first half points, Mitchell exploded scoring 21 points as the Cavs outscored New York 37-22. Cleveland took a brief 86-85 lead causing Brown to call a timeout with 1:30 left as quarter would end tied at 87.
New York held off the scrappy Cavaliers as the defense shut down Mitchell as he scored only 2 points in the 119-111 win in Brown’s debut. Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points and 14 rebounds while Brunson finished with 23. Mitchell had a game high 31 points. 4 of the 5 Knicks starters scored in double figures as McBride scored 15 off the bench. Said Brown of the team’s performance, “It my job to keep trying to find combinations out on the floor that work, and just like they got a lot of room to grow, l’ve got a lot of room to grow too, because l’m still learning.”
The Knicks host the Boston Celtics Friday night who they eliminated in 6 games in last years semi-finals playoffs.
Recent Comments