Knicks Beat Cavaliers 109-97 as Brunson and Towns Lead the Way

The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-97, combining another productive night from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns with a defensive performance that kept their Eastern Conference rivals below 100 points.

Brunson finished with 31 points on 12-for-25 shooting, while Towns delivered 29 points and 13 rebounds. Their combined 60 points helped New York withstand a late push from Donovan Mitchell, who scored 37 points on 13-for-22 shooting.

Returning to Cleveland for the first time since sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks built a lead that reached 19 points and made enough plays down the stretch to improve to 5-4. Cleveland fell to 5-5.

Brunson Turns a Slow Start Into a Scoring Surge

Brunson struggled to find his rhythm early, missing five of his first six attempts. New York’s perimeter shooting was also unreliable, allowing Cleveland to remain competitive despite the Knicks finding opportunities near the basket.

The game changed when Brunson took control in the second quarter.

The Knicks captain scored 18 consecutive New York points, turning a closely contested stretch into an advantage for the visitors. His ability to create shots gave the offense direction while the team continued searching for consistency from outside.

Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and OG Anunoby then supplied additional scoring. Anunoby connected on consecutive three-pointers as New York carried a 63-53 lead into halftime.

Brunson had 20 points at the break, setting the tone for an offense that found ways to succeed despite its uneven shooting.

Offensive Rebounding Gives the Knicks Extra Possessions

The halftime advantage was built on more than shot-making.

Both teams shot 44 percent from the field in the opening half, but the Knicks generated 13 more field-goal attempts. Ten offensive rebounds helped create that difference, while New York committed only three turnovers compared with Cleveland’s eight.

The Knicks also held a 12-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

Those additional possessions helped offset Cleveland’s superior first-half three-point percentage. Rather than relying entirely on perimeter accuracy, New York created opportunities through rebounding and ball security.

That approach proved especially valuable on a night when several rotation players struggled offensively.

Towns Delivers Another Double-Double

Towns picked up a foul within the opening 30 seconds, but the early whistle did not prevent him from playing aggressively.

He avoided further foul trouble throughout the first half and finished the game with only two fouls. By halftime, he had already scored 18 points on 12 field-goal attempts.

His biggest contribution after the break came when Cleveland threatened to gain momentum in the fourth quarter. With Brunson resting, Towns supplied five straight Knicks points to restore a 15-point cushion.

He finished with his ninth double-double of the season, giving New York a dependable source of offense and rebounding during a difficult stretch.

Towns also secured a crucial offensive rebound late in the game, allowing the Knicks to extend a possession and send Brunson to the free-throw line.

Third-Quarter Defense Creates Separation

Cleveland briefly reduced the deficit after halftime, but New York responded with a decisive stretch.

Brunson scored six consecutive points before finding Shamet for a three-pointer, completing a 9-0 run. He later set up Mohamed Diawara for a layup as the Knicks continued to pull away.

New York outscored Cleveland 25-17 in the third quarter, taking an 88-70 lead into the final period.

The defensive effort was particularly important. The Knicks limited Cleveland’s scoring while continuing to generate offense through their primary creators, interior opportunities and timely perimeter shots.

Shamet, starting again with Josh Hart sidelined by an ankle issue, connected on his third three-pointer of the night as the advantage reached 19.

Mitchell’s Late Push Falls Short

Mitchell made sure Cleveland remained a threat.

The Cavaliers guard attacked throughout the fourth quarter, helping reduce the margin to eight points with less than two minutes remaining. His scoring forced New York to continue executing rather than coast through the closing possessions.

The Knicks found the necessary answers.

Mikal Bridges, who finished with nine points on 4-for-13 shooting, delivered an important late basket. Towns contributed on the offensive glass, and New York secured the defensive rebounds needed to prevent Cleveland from extending its comeback.

Mitchell’s 37 points kept the Cavaliers competitive, but the Knicks’ combination of scoring, rebounding and late execution proved sufficient.

Supporting Contributions Help New York Finish the Job

Anunoby added 15 points, while Diawara contributed two points and three rebounds in 14 minutes, finishing with a plus-16 rating.

Andre Drummond collected eight rebounds in 14 minutes, helping reinforce New York’s work on the glass.

There were also areas that remained uneven. Bridges continued to struggle with his shot, while Tyler Kolek went scoreless on two attempts and encountered foul trouble. Dalton Knecht played five minutes in his second Knicks appearance.

Nevertheless, New York received enough support around Brunson and Towns to control most of the second half.

What’s Next for the Knicks?

The Knicks return home to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday after two nights off.

The Cleveland victory offers a useful example of how New York can win without consistent shooting across the rotation. Brunson supplied shot creation, Towns provided scoring and rebounding, and the team’s defense helped preserve the advantage.

Holding the Cavaliers to 97 points while winning the possession battle gave the Knicks a foundation that survived Mitchell’s late surge.