Garland scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavs overcame a 23-point deficit for their 64th win of the season.
In an impressive display of skill and determination, Darius Garland led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a thrilling 108-102 victory over the New York Knicks. Garland’s standout performance included scoring 13 of his total 26 points in the crucial fourth quarter, orchestrating an impressive comeback after being down by 23 points.
Throughout the game, it became evident that the Knicks were destined for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. This was solidified when the Indiana Pacers, who were vying for a higher seed, decided to rest all five starters and subsequently suffered a defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic.
Despite their solid position, the Knicks were unable to match the caliber of play displayed by the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers, holding the top seed, managed to secure a comprehensive four-game sweep over the Knicks, mirroring the Boston Celtics’ earlier accomplishment with an overtime victory.
The Cavaliers played without All-Star Donovan Mitchell and key reserves Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter, but went with their other four starters.
Jalen Brunson scored 27 points for the Knicks, who rested All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns but otherwise had their regular starting lineup in their third straight loss.
The Knicks made 10 of their first 13 3-point attempts to open a 48-25 lead in the first half, but the Cavaliers outscored them 30-16 in the fourth quarter.
Takeaways
Cavaliers: Coach Kenny Atkinson said he believed that Mitchell, officially listed out for the third straight game with a sprained left ankle, would have been able to play Friday if the game mattered and said he would be ready to go for the playoff opener on April 20.
Knicks: The Knicks will have enough trouble with first-round opponent Detroit, the No. 6 seed that won the series 3-1, before worrying about the record against Cleveland or Boston.
Key moment
Garland scored all Cleveland’s points in an 11-6 surge that turned a three-point deficit into a 97-95 edge.
Key stat
Cleveland is 16-4 in its last 20 games in the regular season in Madison Square Garden, though lost both in the Knicks’ victory in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
Up next
Cleveland faces Indiana again on Sunday to wrap up the regular season. The Knicks will be in Brooklyn.
