Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) slams the ball during the third quarter.
CLEVELAND — Mitchell Robinson has proved to be a survivor: of the Scott Perry regime; of Knicks teams that were not even pretenders, losing at least 45 games in three of his first four seasons in the NBA.
Robinson was a building block when it started to turn around under team president Leon Rose and a key piece as the Knicks became legitimate contenders.
Monday night, the longest-tenured Knick became part of the franchise’s first Eastern Conference championship team in 27 years. He experienced losing, and he was impactful enough to be around once it all turned.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) slams the ball during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
In the clincher, a 130-93 blowout of the Cavaliers, Robinson enjoyed his best game of the series: eight points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. He’s a key piece to the improved bench from a year ago, a rim-protecting, rebounding machine. Robinson was a starter early in the season, but coach Mike Brown felt going with Josh Hart as a starter and bringing Robinson off the bench suited the team better.
“Mitch can start for any team in the league — any team. And if he started, he might be first team all-defense and some other things, who knows?” Brown said.
“But this does not work if Mitch does not allow us to do that. If he doesn’t sacrifice himself and allows us to do that, because you’re talking about a starting center that you throw in the game maybe for 30 seconds sometimes, or two minutes, whatever it is, you pull them right back out. So it starts and ends with him, and him sacrificing himself for the team.”
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This could be Robinson’s final year as a Knick. He is an unrestricted free agent. But before any of that, there is a title up for grabs. The Knicks are going to need Robinson in the next round, especially if there is a 1999 NBA Finals rematch against the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama could be waiting, and the Knicks could have an answer for the 7-foot-4 unicorn in the defensively gifted Robinson.
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena after the New York Knicks defeat the the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The New York Knickerbockers are returning the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. Every Spurs fan remembers (or depending on your age, is familiar with) with those particular Finals.
The franchise has made four Finals appearances, but New York has not won a title since 1973.
They head into the 2026 Finals on a heater, completing the sweep of the Cavaliers last night in Cleveland.
Cleveland, who haven’t made it this far into the postseason since LeBron James moved to Hollywood, had been steadily improving since the pandemic bubble of 2020. In 2022, they brought in Donovan Mitchell and began producing winning records again. This season, they made a midseason trade for James Harden, finishing the season with the former MVP on a 20-9 run.
They landed forth in the Eastern Conference. After a seven game series against the Toronto Raptors, they faced the top seeded Detroit Pistons. They upset the Pistons in the seventh game blowout on Detroit’s home court.
Last night they suffered the second sweep that New York has dished out in these playoffs. The Knicks elimintaed the Hawks in six games in the first round of the playoffs before sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers.
James Harden has made the playoffs in each of his seventeen seasons, but has never hoisted the Larry O’Brien.
Jalen Brunson and company now await the winner of the Western Conference Finals. A Spurs match up reunites the two since the Spurs won the first of their five titles.
A Knicks/Spurs finals series also continues not having back-to-back champions, a trend since the Warriors last back-to-bcak in 2019.
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It took sheer grit, the relentless motor of Josh Hart, the elite scoring of Karl-Anthony Towns and the absolute superstardom of Jalen Brunson to get the job done. But this run isn’t just about punching a ticket to the Finals; it’s about celebrating a squad that finally brought real, heavyweight basketball back to New York City (by way of Cleveland).
Now that the confetti has dropped and the Eastern Conference trophy has been hoisted, you need the gear to prove you were here for the ride.
The MVPs of merch, Fanatics, have officially launched the Knicks’ championship collection, and considering the hunger of this fanbase, inventory isn’t going to last long.
From the official Locker Room hats worn by the players during the celebration to exclusive autographed memorabilia, here is just the tip of the iceberg of the best Knicks Eastern Conference Champs gear to snag right now.
Looking for more — we got you.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During player introductions, the Knicks fans visiting Rocket Arena tonight were nearly as loud as the home crowd. Can you blame them for being boisterous? Crossing the 53-year desert since the last championship has made us mighty thirsty.
We finally have real reason to believe.
After some fine-tuning in Games Two and Three against the Hawks in the first round, the team that Leon Rose built has become a juggernaut. Tonight, in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals, with their season on the line, Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers put up some resistance in the first quarter. Then New York seized the rope midway through the period, methodically went about their business, and piled on a 45-point lead to complete the sweep with a 130-93 victory.
That makes 11 straight wins, returning the orange and blue to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. For the first time this century, they seem unstoppable. They seem inevitable.
From the tipoff, the game plans were obvious. The Knicks planned to push the pace, hurling rebounds down the court for 13 fast-break points in the first period, while the Cavs asked seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to save their season. Spida did his best, scoring 12 points in the quarter and finishing with 31 points on 9-of-18 shooting in 32 minutes.
Each team shot poorly early, but improved as the game went on. The visitors capitalized on four Cleveland misses to go on a 9-0 run in the middle of the frame. As he had for most of the series, James Harden bricked multiple times. The vet ended his evening with 12 points and missed all six of his long-range attempts, once again fading into the background on the NBA’s biggest stage.
On the other side, Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, and Brunson all connected from deep, showing yet again the depth of their offense. After falling behind by six, the Knicks outscored the Cavs by 18 to close the quarter ahead, 38-26.
Thanks to two buckets by Jose Alvarado, triples by McBride and the smokin’ hot Shamet (16 PTS, 19 MIN), and a put-back slam by Karl-Anthony Towns (19 PTS, 14 RBS), New York scored 12 unanswered points to start the second quarter. That put them ahead by 24 points. Harden made three free throws and Spida swished one from deep, but they were using paper cups to fight a flood.
The Knicks got buckets from everybody and sprinted the court like Usain Bolt on amphetamines. Everything went right for our heroes. When Brunson stepped to the free-throw line at the midway mark, Rocket Arena thundered with MVP chants. He rebounded his own missed freebie, which promptly became another Shamet bomb for a 29-point lead.
The Ohio Players responded with a 15-3 run, with contributions from Max Strus, Mobley, Harden, and Mitchell, but another acrobatic, falling-away, shot-clock-beating shot by Bridges got the Knicks back on track. At halftime, the good guys were still up, 68-49.
Through the first half, New York protected the ball (four turnovers), cooked in transition (winning fast breaks 26-3), and smashed the glass (26-17). They pummeled Cleveland in the paint and converted nine turnovers into 18 points. Add 17 assists on 25 made shots, and what complaints could you possibly have? The Knicks came to close out the sweep, and the Cavs played like their suitcases were already packed for vacation. Landry Shamet—off the bench—led the way with 11 points, and KAT already had a double-double. Mitchell had 20 for The Land.
The Cavaliers emerged from halftime on a mission to save their dignity. Their defense forced New York into a turnover and a shot-clock violation, and a little run cut the deficit to 16. No sweat. New York just needed a minute or two to regain its rhythm. A steal by Josh Hart, a block by KAT, and back-to-back three-pointers stretched the gap to 22 at the eight-minute mark.
Kenny Atkinson called for time to regroup his troops. Out of that break, OG Anunoby intercepted Harden for a pick-six. Then Merrill and Mitchell both missed from deep, and Allen threw the ball out of bounds. Kenny took a seat as if admitting defeat while New York continued to grind Cleveland’s hopes to powder, dunking its way to a 30-point lead again. Our heroes never stopped running or harassing the Cavs, holding them to just 22 points in the quarter. By the buzzer, they were up 98-71.
Brunson rested through the fourth quarter, taking a well-deserved break. He logged 15 points tonight, but his fingerprints were all over this game just as his identity is all over this team. While he watched from the sidelines, the reserves got to have fun, with Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, and Jordan Clarkson splashing buckets to reach a 45-point lead. The Cavs fans left early. The Knicks fans stayed for the party.
After the game, Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing presented the team with the Bob Cousy trophy for winning the conference, and then gave Jalen Brunson the series MVP trophy. Lisa Salters interviewed him, but the captain was short on hyperbole, as usual. Because for the incredible Jalen, the job remains incomplete. There are four more wins on his agenda.
Professor Miranda is dusting his recap with the usual magic powder. As for the Knicks, they wait to see who their opponent will be. Will it be the Spurs, whom the Knicks defeated for the NBA Cup in Vegas? Or the Thunder, who are trying to flop their way to a second championship? Doesn’t matter to us, the Knicks are ready for either one.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 04: Landry Shamet #20 of the Washington Wizards in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on March 04, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The streak continues.
Former Washington Wizards players Landry Shamet (2023-24), Dillon Jones (2025-26) and Trey Jemison III (2023-24) made the 2026 NBA Finals with the New York Knicks on Monday.
It marked the 18th straight year that a former Wizard will grace an NBA Finals roster — a streak that dates back to 2009.
Former Wizards Landry Shamet (23-24) and Dillon Jones (25-26) have made the NBA Finals with the New York Knicks.
It marks the 18th straight NBA Finals that will feature a former Wizard — a streak that dates back to 2009. pic.twitter.com/3hMsE7R98J
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.
CLEVELAND — The third time was the charm.
Two years ago, Karl-Anthony Towns reached the Western Conference finals as a member of the Timberwolves and lost in five games.
Last year, in his first season with the Knicks, the Pacers ruined his dream of reaching the NBA Finals.
But this spring, he was able to break through, and Towns was far from a secondary contributor.
Karl-Anthony Towns drives to the basket for a layup against the Cavaliers on May 25, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
He was a vital piece of the rampaging Knicks rolling through the Eastern Conference like a freight train. They won a franchise record 11th straight playoff game, completing a dominant series sweep of the Cavaliers with a 130-93 throttling at Knicks fan haven Rocket Arena.
“Experience — experience teaches you a lot,” Towns said. “This is my third conference finals in a row, and I finally got over the hump, finally got to the Finals. For me, I’m going to enjoy this moment, I’m going to enjoy tonight.”
Towns was one of the heroes, notching his eighth double-double of the playoffs with 19 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
Entering the series, there was some uncertainty how Towns would deal with the versatile and talented Cavaliers big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He struggled in the opener, a game in which Jalen Brunson rallied the Knicks from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit.
From there, however, Towns was the best big man in this series, imposing his will at both ends of the floor. He was a monster on the glass, averaging 12 rebounds in the series, along with 15.7 points.
Coach Mike Brown’s decision to tweak the offense and run it through Towns at times became one of the storylines of this postseason run. The Knicks were trailing the Hawks 2-1 at the time, and they haven’t lost since.
Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates with Knicks teamamtes during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. Getty Images
Towns struggled for much of the regular season, averaging his fewest points (20.1) since his rookie year. His 13.8 field goal attempts were the fewest of his 11-year NBA career. But he has turned it up in the playoffs, particularly in this new role of playmaker, tallying 6.1 assists — more than quadrupling what he produced in the playoffs a year ago.
He’s been a more efficient player, his shooting percentages improving across the board (55.9 percent from the field, 45.2 percent from 3-point range) as the stakes have risen. And now, he will get to play on the sport’s biggest stage, for his hometown team.
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“It means the world. I grew up a Knicks fan, as was documented,” Towns said. “What’s more of an honor is growing up in the area, I feel like the word ‘hope’ has been gone from the New York Knicks name for a long time. To be a part of this team that revives the word hope in the city, it’s something special, and it’s an honor.”
After more than two decades of pain, suffering and way too much time thinking the Stephon Marbury trade would right the franchise's ship, the Knicks have returned to the NBA Finals. All that's left for them to do is wait to see who they'll face.
In the West, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are duking it out in a series for the ages. Whoever emerges victorious will undoubtedly be the favorite to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy when all is said and done, but the Knicks shouldn't be counted out entirely. Their 11 straight postseason victories are the most in franchise history, and tied for the third-longest such streak in league history with the 1989 and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers.
Momentum matters a whole lot when it comes to the NBA postseason, which is why it could be a disadvantage for the Knicks to have to wait so long following their victory in the Eastern Conference finals. Here's the full schedule for the 2026 NBA Finals:
2026 NBA Finals schedule
The NBA Finals will stream exclusively on ABC with all games starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.
*- if necessary
Game 1: Wednesday, June 3 at Thunder/Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 2: Friday, June 5 at Thunder/Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 3: Monday, June 8 at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 4: Wednesday, June 10 at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 5*: Saturday, June 13 at Thunder/Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 6*: Tuesday, June 16 at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Game 7*: Friday, June 19 at Thunder/Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
The New York Knicks hold the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photograph: Tim Phillis/AP
The New York Knicks are back in the NBA finals for the first time since 1999 after another overwhelming victory completed a 4-0 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks are in ruthless form as they attempt to win their first NBA championship since 1973. They also swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals and beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs. While their path to the finals in their Eastern Conference has been smooth they will face a stiff test to claim the NBA title. They will face either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, a team with very few flaws, or the San Antonio Spurs, led by 7ft 4in superstar Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs-Thunder series is tied at 2-2 with Game 5 on Tuesday night.
For now though, the Knicks can rest up and look back on an excellent series against the Cavaliers after completing the sweep with a 130-93 win. Cleveland only seriously threatened the Knicks in the opening game of the East finals, when they held a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter, before Jalen Brunson inspired New York to a thrilling comeback win in overtime. The Knicks won the next three games by 16, 13 and 37 points and are on an 11-game winning streak, the third longest in a single postseason in NBA history.
Brunson, whose father Rick played for the Knicks the last time they reached the finals, has been the star of the series but paid tribute to the rest of the Knicks after Monday night’s game.
“It means a lot [to get to the finals], but I wouldn’t be here without my teammates,” Brunson said on the ESPN broadcast. “My coach, this staff, the fanbase, without them none of this is possible.”
Brunson was also awarded the Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference finals MVP after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists across the series.
“[Brunson’s leadership] is vital for us,” said Josh Hart of his teammate. “He’s an even keel, he doesn’t let us get too high or too low. Even games like this when we’re up 15 or 20, he wants to make sure we’re doubling down on our habits.”
Monday’s game was all but over after the Knicks went on a 20-0 run at the end of the first quarter and early into the second. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for New York with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell put up 31 points but once again he could not lead his team to a serious challenge against the Knicks.
“They’re playing better basketball. You got to give them credit. They’re on a heater. I don’t want to detract from what we’ve done, but sometimes you’ve got to give the other team credit,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said.
The Knicks’ presence will bring plenty of attention to this year’s finals. On Monday, several of their high-profile fans, including Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan and Timothée Chalamet, made the journey to Cleveland to see them complete their victory. Lee is on an excellent run after his favorite soccer team, Arsenal, clinched their first Premier League title since 2004 last week.
“Knicks fans are a specific species of human that should be studied, they’re crazy,” said Knicks guard Landry Shamet. “They fly out to Cleveland on a Monday, they’re everywhere. Everywhere you walk in [New York City] that’s what you hear, the buzz is unbelievable. You could try to explain what’s going on for Knicks fans in New York right now, but good luck.”
Latrell Spreewell. Allan Houston. Marcus Camby. Larry Johnson. Charlie Ward. Jeff Van Gundy as coach.
The last time the New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals, 27 years ago, those were the legendary names (Patrick Ewing helped get them there, but was out with a torn Achilles).
Now the names that will go down in Knicks history are Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and others. Mike Brown, who was brought in with a finals-or-bust mandate as coach, has delivered.
The entire team delivered on Monday, as they have for a few weeks and a few series now. Once again, New York ran Cleveland out of its own building, this time in a 126-83 blowout win that saw the Knicks sweep the Cavaliers out of the playoffs and themselves into the Finals.
New York heads to the Finals for the first time since 1999, riding an historic 11-game winning streak, as everything with the Knicks has clicked at the right time. They will get more than a week off to rest and recover as the NBA Finals don't start until June 3, with Game 1 either in Oklahoma City or San Antonio, depending on who comes out of the Western Conference Finals (that series is tied 2-2 heading into a critical Game 5 on Tuesday night).
Cleveland heads into an offseason with a lot of questions — including whether Donovan Mitchell will sign an extension to stay beyond next season. This team was the top seed in the East a season ago but lost in the second round of the playoffs. Then, this season, traded for James Harden mid-season to improve their chances, made the Eastern Conference Finals but were out-everythinged by the Knicks. It's going to force a summer of harsh evaluations for the most expensive team in the NBA.
For a brief few minutes to start Game 4, there was a glimmer of hope for the outnumbered — at least it sounded like it — Cavaliers fans in their home arena. A desperate Cleveland team started the game on an 8-2 run, and midway through the first quarter the Cavaliers still led by one.
Then Game 4 turned into essentially a replay of Game 3. Cleveland missed contested looks while New York hit open ones — or scored in transition. Knicks' role players could not miss, starting with Landry Shamet off the bench. The Knicks' 26 first-half fast-break points were the most by any team in the playoffs in the last 30 years (stat via ESPN). New York was executing on a level Cleveland could not match on both ends of the court and that turned into a 20-0 run that thrilled the Knicks faithful.
Cleveland pretty much rolled over from there, any runs the Cavaliers made was simply because the Knicks hit a cold stretch. New York spread the scoring around. Towns led the scoring with 19 points, Anunoby had 16, Shamet remained hot off the bench with 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while Bridges and Brunson had 15 points but both were a little cold from the floor. Not that it mattered.
Mitchell showed up and played hard, at least on offense, scoring 31 on 9-of-18 shooting. He was also frustrated on the bench because of the effort his team gave on Monday night, and that's going to lead to even more questions this summer.
The only question the Knicks face is how to spend the next week until the NBA Finals start.
The New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are headed home.
New York closed out the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night, winning Game 4 by a final score of 130-93 to complete the four-game sweep of the Cavaliers.
And Charles Barkley pointed to a lack of “effort,” and how the team “quit” in the first half of Game 4 as a major reason why.
Facing elimination at home against the Knicks in Game 4, the Cavaliers were on the wrong end of a 20-0 run from the Knicks, as New York built a 68-49 halftime lead. And during the halftime show, Barkley “requested special time” to address what he saw in the first half:
After Barkley provided the definition of quit — which included a notation to “see also: Cavaliers in Game 4 vs. Knicks” — the show aired several clips from the first half of Knicks players beating Cleveland defenders back down the court for fast-break points.
“This is just effort here,” began Barkley as the montage of Knicks players rolling up fast-break points aired during the halftime break.
“Players ain’t gonna say they’re gonna quit, but you know what shows? Their actions,” continued Barkley.
By the time Game 4 drew to a close, New York had outrebounded Cleveland 60-33, and had scored 33 fast-break points, compared to just nine for Cleveland.
And those watching at home were treated to a vocabulary lesson, courtesy of Charles Barkley.
Jalen Brunson has been named the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
The captain did his part to lead the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
Brunson was absolutely spectacular throughout the series as New York wrapped up a dominant four-game sweep of the Cavaliers on the road on Monday night.
He opened things with a 38-point showing in the Knicks' Game 1 overtime win.
The All-Star point guard then followed that by becoming more of a playmaker in Game 2, finishing with just 19 points while dishing out 14 assists for his first double-double of the postseason.
Brunson led all scorers with 30 points in Game 3, then needed just 15 as he sat the entire fourth quarter during the Knicks' blowout victory to close things out Monday night.
He averaged 25.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds during the four ECF games.
The Knicks completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals after a 130-93 win on Monday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-- New York has been blowing teams out during this incredible playoff run its on right now and a lot of that has to do with getting out to early leads which happened again in Game 4. It took a minute as the Cavs, desperate to keep their season alive, came out aggressive, particularly Donovan Mitchell, but the Knicks eventually imposed their will and took advantage of Cleveland's lack of hustle while getting back on defense.
-- The two biggest scorers in the early part of the game were, no surprise, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, but the first quarter was truly an all-out team affair with bench players Landry Shamet and Miles McBride also hitting some big shots to kill any momentum the Cavs were trying to create.
Both players kept up their hot shooting in the second quarter where New York continued to extend its lead. Shamet, in particular, was in his bag and had the hot hand from beyond the arc. He finished with 16 points on 5-for-6 from the floor and 4-for-4 from deep.
-- In the blink of an eye, thanks to a 12-0 run to kick off the second quarter, the Knicks had a 24-point lead on the Cavs and were simply the far superior team. They dominated Cleveland in nearly every aspect of the game, most notably rebounding and fast-break points.
-- Other than Mitchell, the Cavs had no answers to keep up with New York's fine-tuned offense and looked disjointed and at times uninterested on most of their possessions. For his part, Mitchell showed up and finished with 31 points, but his scoring mate James Harden had a terrible game and scored just 12 points on 2-for-8 from the floor (0-for-6 from deep). As a team, Cleveland shot a paltry 27.5 percent from three-point range.
-- As for the Knicks, they couldn't miss from downtown. Along with Shamet, Towns literally didn't miss a single three ball (3-for-3) with Brunson and McBride also chipping in from behind the line. As a team, New York shot 44 percent from deep and had 33 assists on the night. But it wasn't just the three-point shot that had New York rolling; everything was working.
The Knicks outrebounded the Cavs, 60-33, including 20-6 on the offensive glass. Towns finished with a game-high 14 rebounds and Mitchell Robinson had 10 in 18 minutes off the bench. They also had 15 steals on the night with contributions up and down the lineup in that department.
-- New York's lead grew to as large as 45 points in the fourth quarter with Cleveland waiving the white flag. Both teams emptied their bench with still eight minutes to play, and even with their reserves on the court the Knicks didn't miss a step.
Every single player who stepped onto the court for New York had a positive impact on the game with nobody finishing with a plus-minus rating below plus-2.
Game MVP: Landry Shamet
Sham-wow's energy off the bench was the catalyst for the Knicks' annihilation of the Cavs, and he finished with a game-high plus-minus rating of plus-28.
Next comes the biggest stage in the sport. Next comes the chance to end the drought that matters most.
Next comes the chance for glory.
It felt like the Knicks couldn’t be bothered with this series any longer. The Cavaliers, too, in the opposite manner. And it produced another epic blowout, as the Knicks bludgeoned the Cavs 130-93 on Monday night at Rocket Arena to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
“I truly felt that this team was an NBA Finals team,” coach Mike Brown said. “I thought we had a true opportunity. Some jobs you take, you’re like, ‘OK, we can get better, we have a chance to make the playoffs.’ But this one, I felt we legitimately had a chance.”
Owner James Dolan’s Finals-or-bust mandate has now been fulfilled — in emphatic fashion. The Knicks stormed past the conference finals roadblock that they couldn’t get past last year.
The 21st century had never witnessed or experienced the absolute mania that surrounds a Knicks Finals run. Finally, at long last, it’s arrived.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, center, holds the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
And it’s provided every reason to believe the Knicks are not close to being finished. Every reason to believe that these surging Knicks can conquer either the Thunder or Spurs — who are tied 2-2 — and win their first championship since 1973.
This tour de force has so far ripped through Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland. There has been minimal resistance on the way. Since midway through the first round, this is now an incredible 11-game winning streak. Only one of those wins was by single digits. There are so many new records set with each passing game that it makes your head spin.
It’s back-to-back overpowering series sweeps. It’s three straight closeout games in which Knicks fans completely took over the opposing arena. It’s a full-circle moment for Brown, who reached the Finals against the team he made his last Finals appearance with — in 2007 — and that fired him twice. It’s the latest — and so far, most meaningful — feat of the Jalen Brunson era as he keeps rising higher and higher on the hierarchy of Knicks legends.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes up for a shot as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) jumps to defend during the fourth quarter of Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
It’s a long-awaited breakthrough for Karl-Anthony Towns, who lost in the conference finals the past two years — with the Timberwolves and Knicks — before finally getting past that hurdle this year. It’s validation for president Leon Rose and all the moves he made, particularly his controversial trade for Mikal Bridges, who has been playing some of the best basketball of his career.
It is so, so many things.
“To be part of this team that revives the word ‘hope’ in this city, it’s something special,” Towns said. “It’s something really, really special. And it’s an honor.”
Knicks fans celebrated at Radio City. Michael Nagle for NY Post
Brown has repeatedly talked about closeout games being the hardest. At this point, that almost feels like satire. They have won their three closeout games by a combined 118 points. They became the first team to ever win three series-clinchers by at least 20 points in one postseason.
They had broken the Cavs’ spirits by Monday, just like they did with the Hawks and 76ers by the end of those series. This game was much more dismissive than dramatic — the Knicks swatted away the Cavs like a gnat.
“We’ve been locked in on the moment,” Brunson said. “And I think we need to continue to do that.”
Knicks players holding the Eastern Conference Trophy after the game.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It would be inaccurate to say the Cavs let go of the rope Monday, because they never truly grabbed hold of it in the first place.
The Knicks used a 20-0 run to build their lead. By midway through the second quarter, that lead had ballooned to 29 points. It became a full Knicks party behind enemy lines. An Eastern Conference coronation in somebody else’s house.
The Cavs cut it to 16 by the start of the third quarter, but the Knicks got it back to 27 points by the start of the fourth quarter. Not even Kenny Atkinson’s analytics could save the Cavs. Brown was able to pull his starters and empty his bench for almost the whole fourth quarter.
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The scoring was, once again, perfectly balanced. Towns led the way with 19 (and 14 rebounds), OG Anunoby had 17, Brunson and Bridges had 15 apiece and Josh Hart added six along with 11 rebounds and six assists. Landry Shamet drilled all four 3s he took and provided 16 points off the bench.
The Knicks had a 33-9 advantage in fast-break points, embarrassing the Cavs by beating them down the court over and over again. James Harden had no interest in getting back after misses. He and the Cavs folded like lawn chairs. The Knicks also had a 58-24 edge in bench points.
This was yet another all-around beatdown. They turned the Cavaliers into cadavers.
“I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland for it to be like this in a sweep,” Donovan Mitchell said. “That’s ass.”
That’s the state in which the Knicks left the Cavs.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the third quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers’ season officially ended at 10:31 P.M. on Monday, but they didn’t show much effort after about 8:30.
The New York Knicks, with nearly as many of their fans in attendance as there were Cavs fans, completed the sweep with a one-sided 130-93 win.
Cleveland started the game strong. Their offense looked much better with the assertion of Max Strus in the starting lineup. They scored on three of their first four possessions, jumping out to an early six-point advantage. Then, the Knicks turned it on and never looked back.
New York took control of the game at the end of the first quarter. They closed the frame on a 13-5 run, then scored the first 12 points of the second quarter. That made it a 24-point Knicks lead. Any hope of extending the series was extinguished with that run.
The remaining 33 minutes of play were just an excuse for the Knicks fans who packed Rocket Arena a chance to celebrate their team’s first trip to the Finals in over a quarter of a century.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs in scoring. He put up 31 points on 9-18 shooting. Evan Mobley had 15 points and seven rebounds.
It was a complete team effort for the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the starters with 19 points on 8-11 shooting with 14 rebounds. OG Anunoby had 17 points. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges had 15 apiece.
This was the furthest this Mitchell-led Cleveland group has gone in the playoffs, yet this postseason run was mostly unfulfilling.
The Cavs needed seven games — which was at least two too many — to get past a feisty, but inexperienced Toronto Raptors team that is far from a finished product. That was followed up with a seven-game series against a Detroit Pistons team that really couldn’t establish any consistent offense throughout the postseason. Then, they blew a golden opportunity to take Game 1 against New York by squandering a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.
We’ll see where this team goes from here.
This was a turbulent regular season that featured injuries at every point and drastic trades in February to try to get the season back on track. On one hand, it’s impressive that they made it this far. But if this game — and series — were any indication of things, the Cavs have a long way to go if they want to compete for championships. Something needs to change.
