Knicks

Brunson and Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 42, went toe to toe all night.

The Knicks need just one more win to clinch a playoff spot. It was Mitchell 11th 40-point game of the season, which is a Cavaliers single-season record. Yes, the Cavs were without

The New York Knicks are inches away from an automatic NBA playoff berth, with their earliest opportunity to clinch landing on Saturday.

The Knicks reduced their magic number to one in their first game without Randle, who sprained his ankle Wednesday.

Knicks: New York is one of five East teams — and four in the Atlantic Division — with a winning road record. The 14th-year veteran fell out of the rotation in December and has only played 141 seconds in 2023. The record of 91 is shared by Utah and Denver (1982), and Miami and Washington (2021). "I was going to hold the ball out, but they doubled and I guess that means keep playing. Leading by three, the Knicks outscored the Cavs 14-2 to open the fourth and get some breathing room in a game played at a frenetic pace. "It was the heat of the moment. He missed a floater in the final seconds that would have given him 50 points. "This is my brother," Toppin said. "They had confidence in me and the ball just went through the hole," said Brunson, who scored 44 in a loss to Milwaukee on Jan. New York hopes he'll be back for the postseason and a potential first-round matchup against the Cavs. "There is a lot of film to go through. "I just kept shooting with confidence and that's just how it went."

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 5-point home favorites over the New York Knicks in their NBA game slated for Friday, March 31.

Grab the over 2.5 on Mobley assists at odds of -142. Conversely, New York is allowing just 15.3 points per game from turnovers, which puts the Knicks among the top-four teams in the NBA in this category. Taking that level of star power out of the lineup is leaving the Knicks severely shorthanded. Generating 19.4 points per game off of turnovers, that puts the Cavs within the three best teams in the NBA. On the other hand, four of the past five Knicks vs. The Cavaliers have gone over in 12 of their last 18 games. At 24-13-3, Cleveland is the best against the spread home team in the Eastern Conference. At 24-14-0, New York is the best ATS road club in the East. When in comes to the total of 220.5 points, there’s less certainty. However, New York is winless in the club’s last three games at Cleveland. That’s fourth-best in the East. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers are 2.5 games behind the No.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones during the first half of an NBA basketball game ...

While it may not be the type of identity that can help them win a playoff series, they will have to hope that Randle’s ankle heals in time and it doesn’t come to that. Considering Toppin is also not a consistently solid defender, allowing him to close games in place of Randle would keep the Knicks vulnerable on defense without adding the same offensive output that Randle gives. With Randle on the court, the Knicks allow 7.9 more points per possession and allow opponents to post a 3.6% better effective field goal rate. Grimes and Hart in particular offer good switchability, which enables the Knicks to defend pick-and-rolls better than they do with their normal lineup on the floor. The lineup Thibodeau ended with on Wednesday also showcases a potential silver lining in playing without Randle. This lineup allowed just eight points in the final nine minutes of game action and put the game away for the Knicks. In fact, according to Cleaning the Glass, Quickley, Grimes, Barrett, and Hart had played just 18 total non-garbage time possessions together and that was with Julius Randle playing a small-ball center. [According to Cleaning the Glass](https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/3014/onoff#tab-team_efficiency), the Knicks score 8.5 more points per possession, post a 2.7% better effective field goal percentage, and turn the ball over 0.9% less when Randle is on the court. The former 8th overall pick has been a bit of an afterthought in the rotation over the last couple of months, but he has flashed when given an opportunity. In fact, when Julius Randle missed time in April of 2022, Toppin flourished, posting 27.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 46.3% shooting from beyond the arc in five games. [Shams Charania](https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1641545257610256391?s=46&t=fiM-NHepGA4FvmCGg0Cjbg) of The Athletic that New York Knicks star forward Julius Randle will miss the remainder of the regular season and perhaps a playoff game or two as he battles an ankle sprain he suffered in the win over Miami. There are a few clear reasons for this.

Knicks' Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett spoke Friday after shootaround about the team's 'next man up mentality' going forward, saying 'everyone has to be ...

Whatever remains of the New York Knicks' season could forge a path ahead for Obi Toppin's NBA career ... or keep it sputtering.

CLEVELAND — Obi Toppin received his first starting assignment of the season for the Knicks as the injury replacement for All-Star forward Julius Randle.

So just get in there and play to your strengths. “Whether he starts or comes off the bench, just get in there and play to your strengths. “He just factors in,” Thibodeau said of Toppin.

Jalen Brunson won his matchup against Donovan Mitchell and the Knicks outlasted the Cavaliers on Friday night, 130-116, running away in the fourth quarter in ...

He’s versatile in the sense that he can off the ball and on the ball. “Play to your strengths and cover up your weaknesses.” Mitchell hit his first eight shots — including three treys — and scored 23 points in the opening quarter. The Knicks entered with a bottom-5 ranking in pace, which suits Randle’s halfcourt game. Dribblers navigated screens to get to the paint with ease. Brunson countered with his own 21-point first quarter, the most he’s ever scored in a single period. Just put the team first and that’s what they did.” The victory moved the No. Heat of the moment,” Thibodeau said. In a microcosm of the evening, Mitchell soared for a dunk with about five minutes left that cut Cleveland’s deficit to single digits. It appeared Barrett was angered by something Toppin said and stood up to go at his teammate. Brunson finished with nine assists and shot 18-for-32, including 7-or-12 from beyond the arc.

CLEVELAND — Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 48 points and the New York Knicks moved closer to a playoff berth while waiting for All-Star Julius Randle to ...

… New York is one of five East teams — and four in the Atlantic Division — with a winning road record. The 14th-year veteran fell out of the rotation in December and has only played 141 seconds in 2023. The record of 91 is shared by Utah and Denver (1982), and Miami and Washington (2021). Leading by three, the Knicks outscored the Cavs 14-2 to open the fourth and some breathing room in a game played at a frenetic pace. Brunson missed a floater in the final seconds that would have given him 50 points. New York hopes he’ll be back for the postseason and a potential first-round matchup against the Cavs.

There was a tenseness in the lake Erie air in downtown Cleveland all day on Friday, as fans waited anxiously for the Cavs to tip-off with their likely ...

The New York Knicks say they feel terrible that All-Star Julius Randle is out for at least two weeks because of a left ankle injury, but the group ...

"A million times," Brunson said. "It's about the same." "It's a sprained ankle, so when the medical clears him and he's ready to go, obviously he'll be back." "That's what a team is for and that's what we do, we're professionals. "He's a fighter, he's going to try and get back as healthy as he can, as fast as he can. We got to stay professional and just do our job." He said earlier Friday that all tests run on the hand "came back negative." You know how he is when he answers questions, he's very straight-faced, monotone, but he's a great teammate, great guy to be around, so he'll be back." It's all about how you respond, and we're just going to have to, as a group collectively, pick up where he left off and for now just try to get one without him." The way I come in looking at it I want to make the right plays. He's a warrior. That's who he is, he's authentic, he cares about the team, he cares about winning."

The New York Knicks were throwing everything — and everyone — they could at landing LeBron James. As his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers came to an ...

But, for the meantime, he had to live with the consequences of his controversial decision. “And he was confident that money wasn’t going to be the deciding factor. It seemed that even people who didn’t follow basketball were rooting against him and the Heat,” concludes Benedict. But Riley did have the benefit of offering South Beach.” His presence was a deterrent in LeBron’s mind.” LeBron, Riley figured, would move to the Black Hills of South Dakota if that was what it took to win an NBA championship. “Trump’s staff had sent special instructions on how to light him for the interview,” he writes. “Ohio was his home. As Benedict writes: “New Yorkers were thrilled. His inner circle was there,” writes Benedict. His family was settled there. In just seven years as a pro, LeBron James had already rewritten basketball’s record books.

New York's point guard scored a career-high 48 points and the Knicks moved closer to a playoff berth while waiting for Randle to get healthy, outrunning the ...

The Knicks never stop crashing, and the Cavs haven't been able to handle that during their four matchups with New York this season. If the playoffs are a ...

And in the rush to keep track of that size, plus Hart, you can lose track of New York’s shooters. The Cavs have more talent than New York. That’s what the Knicks are counting on. Sims and Hart called those moments “demoralizing” for defenses. If nobody recovers to Robinson – or Sims, or Isaiah Hartenstein or Julius Randle – he’ll dunk home the miss. [Caesars Ohio Sportsbook](https://www.cleveland.com/betting/ohio/caesars/) is open for bets now that Ohio sports betting has launched. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, all of whom attempt shots from “floater range” (between four and 14 feet) more often than 86% of NBA players. Both Brunson (50%) and Quickley (51%) make at least half of those shots, which further complicates the rim protector’s plight. Or they could prioritize the ball handler, thus leaving a New York big in good position to grab the miss. Hart said perimeter players aren’t used to focusing on rim vultures like himself, and he takes advantage. For starters, New York ranks eighth in 3-point attempts this season, which can lead to long rebounds. Robinson, who averages 4.2 offensive rebounds per game and grabbed nine during Friday’s 130-116 win over Cleveland, is one of five Knicks who averages at least 1.8.

The New York Knicks and HUB International are proud to announce Eileen Torres as a recipient of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award.

For additional information and to make a nomination for the award, visit [nba.com/knicks/community/sweetwater](https://www.nba.com/knicks/community/sweetwater). The Knicks and HUB International have made a $10,000 donation to BronxWorks as Eileen Torres’ charity of choice. The New York Knicks and HUB International are proud to announce Eileen Torres as a recipient of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award.

The NBA Playoffs are only two weeks away, and the Knicks look relatively safe in securing a top six seed and avoiding the Play-In Tournament despite an ...

The New York Knicks say they feel terrible that All-Star Julius Randle is out for at least two weeks because of a left ankle injury, but the group believes ...

"A million times," Brunson said. "It's about the same." "It's a sprained ankle, so when the medical clears him and he's ready to go, obviously he'll be back." "That's what a team is for and that's what we do, we're professionals. "He's a fighter, he's going to try and get back as healthy as he can, as fast as he can. It's all about how you respond, and we're just going to have to, as a group collectively, pick up where he left off and for now just try to get one without him."

The New York Knicks got potentially their biggest win of the season Friday as they went into Cleveland and defeated the Cavaliers 130-116.

Josh Hart provided a spark as well and scored 11 points and shot a perfect 4-4 from the field. Meanwhile, the Knicks will focus on their next game, which will be against the Washington Wizards at home on Sunday. The Knicks’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now just one.

1) Even after scoring 48 points in last night's win, Jalen Brunson would have to average 42.5 points per game his last 4 games to finish the year averaging 25.

In addition to STAT putting up 25+, Melo averaged over 26 a game after coming to the Knicks in February 2011, but spent most of that season with Denver. 5) Tom Thibodeau is likely to be the team’s head coach next year, meaning he’ll enter a fourth season at the helm. If you’re really up for some fun, who was the last Knick to lead the team in dimes before Randle arrived? Who was the last Knick before Randle to lead the team in dimes? 1) Even after scoring 48 points in last night’s win, Jalen Brunson would have to average 42.5 points per game his last 4 games to finish the year averaging 25. Only once in club history have the Knicks had two teammates each average 25+ in a year both played mostly in New York.

The Cavs may have lost their season series against the Knicks, but it doesn't bother Donovan Mitchell even if they face them in the playoffs.

In their Friday loss, he actually bagged 42 points and would have been the hero for the Cavs had it not for Jalen Brunson’s big game. I think for me, I wouldn’t want it any other way. The Wine and Gold may have the better record overall, but their head-to-head results don’t really inspire confidence among the Cleveland faithful.

The four-time All-Star scored 42 points Friday night for the Cavaliers, but Jalen Brunson netted a career-high 48 for the victorious Knicks in a likely ...

Asked what he took away from facing the Knicks this late in the season, Mitchell added, “Different things, won’t share all with you. I think it’s something that’s really special and near and dear to me being able to play in a playoff [series] in front of my friends and family. It happened, I’m here and I’m glad to be here,” Mitchell said Friday night. “I think it’s even more important because this is the team we’re probably going to see,” Mitchell said. “Obviously we’re missing people, they’re missing people, but still the same competition, competitiveness. Wouldn’t want it any other way,” Mitchell said following the Knicks’ 130-116 win Friday in Cleveland.

A Cavs win over the Knicks would have clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but they lost 130-116.

Whatever team plays harder and gets as many stops and tries to take care of the ball as much as you can and try to get a good quality possession every possession, that’s the playoffs, I believe.” If we see these guys, it’s going to be a challenge, and we’re going to try to punch first and see what they do.” Then, the Cavs worked through a tough January schedule when they finished the month 8-8, the only month this season that they did not have a winning record. It’s about getting to exact spots on the floor on defense. Those are the little things, the little details that can’t happen.” A win on Friday over the Knicks would have clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Cavs didn’t match the level of intensity and effort the Knicks brought. It’s going to be who gets those extra possessions in a playoff series and have to find a way to keep their guys off the glass and keep them out of the paint. End of the half, Mitchell Robertson gets a tip-in, I think it was the half or quarter or whatever; Mitchell Robertson gets a tip-in changes the complexity of the whole game. “One of the things that I thought we really struggled with was letting one play impact the next play. They struggled to contain [Jalen Brunson](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jalen-brunson-uGz2UuQlVMHyp5KN/), who scored a career-high 48 points, shooting 18 of 32 from the field and 7 of 12 from 3. The importance of details.

Donovan Mitchell's hometown New York Knicks secured a 3-1 edge over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the regular-season series. A postseason clash is likely.

“[I want my teammates to] worry about it in the right context, but don't let this linger, because at the end of the day it's a whole new ballgame when the playoffs start, and there's so much we can take from this — positive, negative, constructive — and we'll respond. Instead, the Knicks claimed the regular-season series 3-1 by prevailing in a game Cavs coach J.B. A Cavs win would have clinched home-court advantage in the opening round. “These are moments that you have to learn from,” Bickerstaff said. “This sucks to feel this way this late in the season, but if we hang our head on this, we have no chance in the playoffs,” Mitchell said. The Cleveland defense struggled and was shredded by Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who finished with a career-high 48 points to go along with nine assists. It opened some guys' eyes, I think, to the level of physicality.” With his 11th 40-point game since arriving in Cleveland, Mitchell surpassed [LeBron James](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/nba/2023/03/31/lebron-james-not-worried-about-twitter-blue-check-mark-disappearing/70068850007/) (10 in 2005-06) for the most 40-point outings in a single season in Cavs history. [All-Star power forward Julius Randle](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2023/03/30/knicks-randle-out-rest-of-regular-season-with-ankle-sprain/70065977007/) (sprained ankle), and the Cavs were missing two starters, [center Jarrett Allen](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/cavs/2023/02/12/jarrett-allen-becoming-larger-piece-to-cavs-offense-during-win-streak-cleveland-nba/69882962007/) (strained groin) and small forward Isaac Okoro (knee soreness). [the All-Star guard](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/cavs/2023/01/27/cavaliers-donovan-mitchell-earns-2023-nba-all-star-starting-spot/69846185007/) in [Utah](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/cavs/2023/01/11/cleveland-cavaliers-score-utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-jordan-clarkson/69795965007/), will be anything but a dream scenario from a Cleveland perspective unless the Cavaliers process [Friday night's 130-116 loss](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/cavs/2023/03/31/nba-cavs-knicks-score-donovan-mitchell-jalen-brunson-julius-randle-jarrett-allen-playoffs-home-court/70070552007/) the right way and use it as a wake-up call. [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/cavs/2023/02/13/cavaliers-nba-all-star-donovan-mitchell-nasty-ankle-breaking-move-spurs-jeremy-sochan/69901163007/) didn't attempt to hide how a playoff series between [the Cavaliers](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/cavs/2023/03/26/cleveland-cavaliers-nba-playoffs-first-time-since-1998-without-lebron-james-donovan-mitchell/70048438007/) and New York Knicks would hit him from a sentimental standpoint.