Brunson Pumped Playing In His First Payoff Game At MSG
By Andrew Rosario
Ex-Los Angeles Lakers, ex-New York Knicks and ex-Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley said the playoffs don’t really begin until the home team loses a game. The Knicks didn’t waste any time as they stole game one in Cleveland 101-97. The Cavaliers could not afford to lose game 2 knowing games 3 and 4 would be played Madison Square Garden. They thoroughly outplayed the Knicks coming away with the 17-point, 107-90 victory. Both teams looked to go up 2 games to 1 when they played last night in front of a raucous, sellout crowd.
Both teams got off to a slow shooting night as Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and forward Julius Randle combined for only 4 points. RJ Barrett, who was relatively quiet the first two games scored 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting connecting on 2 of 3, 3 pointers as the game was tied at 17. Donovan Mitchell, who was booed every time he touched the ball, led the Cavs with 9 points.
The second quarter begins and the Knicks started to assert themselves. Brunson and Randle shake off the first quarter rust scoring a combined 14 at one point as they outscored Cleveland 28-15 taking a commanding 45-32 halftime lead. New York never looked back.
The deciding factor throughout the game was the Knicks relentless defense. They held Cleveland to shooting 39% from the floor with Donovan Mitchell leading the Cavs with 22 points. The Cavs didn’t help themselves as they missed 26 of 33 3-point attempts (21%).
In the 20-point 99-79 win, Brunson led the Knicks with 21 points and Barrett finished with 19. The bench was big as Josh Hart and Immanuel Quickley combined for 24 of the 39 total bench points. Cleveland contributed only 14 bench points.
Said head coach Tom Thibodeau afterward, “l thought we had good overall activity, good intensity. Guys were connected.”
For Brunson, playing his first playoff game at the Garden, he soaked up the atmosphere. “Being in this environment, there is no replica, there is nothing that comes close to it. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
The Knicks know the Cavaliers will not go down without a fight and New York can take a commanding 3-1 series lead when they take the court Sunday afternoon. “It’s one game,” said Thibodeau. “Now the challenge is to get ready for game 4.”
One thing is for sure. The fans will be ready.
