Knicks Advance to NBA Finals for First Time Since 1999 With Sweep of Cavaliers

The New York Knicks secured a spot in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 on Monday night, completing a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference finals.

Karl Anthony-Towns led the Knicks with a strong performance, scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. OG Anunoby contributed 17 points, helping the team extend their impressive 11-game postseason winning streak. This achievement matches Golden State’s 15-game streak in 2017.

New York’s dominant play allowed them to pull their starters with 7:47 remaining. The Knicks’ fans, including notable celebrity supporters like Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Timothée Chalamet, and Kylie Jenner, were vocal in their support, chanting “Knicks in four!” as they outnumbered the Cavaliers’ fans.

The Knicks now await the winner of the Western Conference finals, where Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are tied at two games each. The winning team will have homecourt advantage in the Finals starting June 3, thanks to a better regular-season record.

This marks New York’s third Finals appearance since their last title in 1973. They previously reached the Finals in 1994 and 1999, losing to Houston and San Antonio, respectively. It also highlights a significant milestone for head coach Mike Brown, who joined the team after they parted ways with Tom Thibodeau. Brown has reached the NBA Finals with the Knicks in his first year, a feat achieved 15 times since the 1976 NBA-ABA merger.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points but the team faced their first postseason series sweep since the 2018 NBA Finals against Golden State. Cleveland started strong, jumping to an 8-2 lead, before New York took control. The Knicks responded with a 20-0 run late in the first quarter, swiftly overturning an early deficit.

By halftime, the Knicks commanded a 68-49 lead, having led by as many as 29 points in the first half. Four Knicks players hit double figures within the first 24 minutes, with Towns achieving a double-double in the process.

New York’s largest lead peaked at 45 points in the fourth quarter.