Back-to-back, the Knicks finally sign a benchmark victory, and good news for their fans, it’s at home! Defeated the day before against the Mavericks, Jalen Brunson’s teammates reacted perfectly by winning 92-81. There is no shell, in an NBA more focused than ever on the attack, the two teams have accumulated 173 points…
In fact, the Cavaliers impaled themselves on the defense of the Knicks, and they never managed to space the game. The absence of Dean Wade does not explain everything, nor that of Jarrett Allen, but never Cleveland was appeared also borrowed on half court. In the wake of Jalen Brunson, and thanks to a good dominance in the offensive rebound, the Knicks had an 18-point lead (37-19) after 15 minutes of play, and they were never led in the score of the game.
Several times, Cleveland will try to pick up the score and Mitchell will even bring them down to -5 (86-81) two minutes from the end. Little “clutch” this season, the Knicks will not shake and it is the Brunson-Randle pair who will score the last six points of the game.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
End of series. The Knicks had not beaten the Cavaliers since January 2021, almost two years! These same Knicks had not won at home since November 11. It is also the first time this season that New York has dominated a team at home with a positive record. So far, the Knicks have only beaten the Pistons, Hornets and Magic in their halls.
European arbitration. It may be unheard of, the referees whistled a total of 14 walkers and ball carriers! This obviously chops the game, and it inflates the column of lost balls.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Jalen Brunson. Revengeful after the defeat the day before against the Mavericks, he set the tone for the meeting with his aggressiveness and his defense on Darius Garland. A real boss at the end of the match to avoid scares for his team.
✅The Robinson-Hartenstein pair. New York wins the rebound battle with 54 catches to 39, and Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein have 11 offensive rebounds. It’s so many second chances to score.
⛔Darius Garland. Like almost all of his teammates, the All-Star point guard was holed up with a 7 of 19 on shots. He stubbornly attacked the paint while the Knicks defense was in place.
THE FOLLOWING
New York (11-13) : reception of the Hawks Wednesday evening.
Cleveland (15-9) : LeBron James returns to town on Tuesday night.
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