The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-96 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, sweeping the home-and-home series and extending their winning streak to four games. The Knicks improved to 5-1 in the 2023-24 NBA season, while the Cavaliers dropped to 2-4.
Knicks dominate with balanced scoring and defense
The Knicks had six players scoring in double figures, led by Julius Randle with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Randle was efficient from the field, shooting 9-of-15 and making three 3-pointers. He also had a game-high plus-28 rating in 34 minutes of action.
RJ Barrett added 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Kemba Walker had 18 points and five assists. Walker bounced back from a poor shooting performance on Tuesday, when he scored only six points on 2-of-10 shooting. He made four 3-pointers on Wednesday and looked more comfortable in the Knicks’ offense.
Evan Fournier, who scored a season-high 25 points on Tuesday, had 14 points and four assists on Wednesday. Mitchell Robinson contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while Derrick Rose had 11 points and six assists off the bench.
The Knicks also played stellar defense, holding the Cavaliers to 40.7% shooting from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc. The Knicks forced 16 turnovers and scored 22 points off them. They also outrebounded the Cavaliers 50-38 and outscored them in the paint 52-38.
Cavaliers struggle without Garland and Allen
The Cavaliers were missing two of their key players, as Darius Garland (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (ankle) did not play for the second consecutive game. Garland is the team’s leading scorer and playmaker, averaging 21.8 points and 7.5 assists per game. Allen is the team’s anchor on defense, averaging 12.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
Without Garland and Allen, the Cavaliers lacked offensive firepower and defensive presence. Collin Sexton led the team with 21 points, but he shot only 8-of-21 from the field and had four turnovers. Isaac Okoro had a career-high 20 points, but he fouled out in the fourth quarter. Kevin Love had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, but he was a minus-23 in 25 minutes.
The Cavaliers also got little production from their starting frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen and Evan Mobley. Markkanen had nine points and six rebounds, while Mobley had eight points and seven rebounds. Both players shot below 40% from the field and combined for five turnovers.
Knicks continue to impress with hot start
The Knicks have been one of the most impressive teams in the NBA so far, winning five of their first six games. They have been dominant at home, winning all four games at Madison Square Garden by an average margin of 16.8 points.
The Knicks have shown improvement on both ends of the floor, ranking fourth in offensive rating (114.4) and seventh in defensive rating (105.4) as of Wednesday night. They have also been one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league, ranking second in both makes (15.7 per game) and percentage (41.9%).
The Knicks have a balanced roster with multiple scoring options, veteran leadership and defensive versatility. They have also developed a strong chemistry and identity under coach Tom Thibodeau, who has instilled a culture of hard work and accountability.
The Knicks will look to extend their winning streak to five games when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. The Cavaliers will try to snap their three-game losing skid when they visit the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
