The New York Knicks are back in the NBA finals for the first time since 1999 after completing a 4-0 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks are attempting to win their first NBA championship since 1973. Their presence will bring plenty of attention to this year’s finals.
Dominant Playoff Run
The Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals and beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs. Their path to the finals in their Eastern Conference has been smooth. They will face either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs-Thunder series is tied at 2-2 with Game 5 on Tuesday night.
The Knicks completed the sweep with a 130-93 win. New York are on an 11-game winning streak, the third longest in a single postseason in NBA history.
Brunson’s Leadership and Teamwork
Jalen Brunson was awarded the Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference finals MVP after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists across the series.
“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.”
Josh Hart said Brunson’s leadership is vital. “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,” Hart said of his teammate.
Game 4 Decisive Victory
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.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said, “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 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.
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.
On Monday, several high-profile fans, including Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan and Timothée Chalamet, made the journey to Cleveland to see them complete their v