The New York Knicks have secured their place in the NBA finals for the first time since 1999 after a commanding 4-0 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks, who are pursuing their first NBA championship since 1973, have been in dominant form throughout the postseason.
Dominant Playoff Run
New York's path to the finals has been remarkably smooth. They swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals and defeated the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the first round. However, a formidable challenge awaits in the finals, where they will face either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs, led by 7ft 4in superstar Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs-Thunder series is tied at 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday night.
Series Recap
The Knicks completed the sweep with a resounding 130-93 victory in Game 4. Cleveland only posed a serious threat in the opening game, where they held a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter before Jalen Brunson inspired a thrilling overtime comeback. New York won the subsequent games by margins of 16, 13, and 37 points. The team is now on an 11-game winning streak, the third longest in a single postseason in NBA history.
Brunson Leads the Way
Jalen Brunson, whose father Rick played for the Knicks during their last finals appearance, has been the standout performer. He 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. "My coach, this staff, the fanbase, without them none of this is possible."
Teammate Josh Hart praised Brunson's leadership: "[Brunson's leadership] is vital for us. 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."
Game 4 Highlights
Monday's game was effectively decided after the Knicks went on a 20-0 run spanning the end of the first quarter and early second quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points but could not mount a serious challenge. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged: "They're playing better basketball. You got to give them credit. They're on a heater."
Fan Excitement
The Knicks' return to the finals has generated immense buzz. High-profile fans including Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, and Timothée Chalamet traveled to Cleveland for the clinching game. Lee is enjoying a particularly successful period after his favorite soccer team, Arsenal, clinched their first Premier League title since 2004 last week. Knicks guard Landry Shamet remarked: "Knicks fans are a specific species of human that should be studied, they're crazy. They fly out to Cleveland on a Monday, they're everywhere."
The Knicks' first home game of the NBA finals will take place on 8 June, with courtside seats already priced at $105,000 on resale sites.
