Knicks defense suffocates Cavs stars in 99-79 win to take 2-1 lead in first-round series

It’s been a decade since the New York Knicks last won a postseason series, but that playoff drought could be in jeopardy after Friday night’s 99-79 blowout over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The victory gives New York a 2-1 series lead heading into Sunday’s Game 4, and also serves as a warning for Eastern Conference foes: The Knicks are more than just tourists in this year’s postseason.  

From the opening tip, the crowd of over 19,000 screaming fans let their presence be felt. Madison Square Garden’s notorious ‘de-fense’ chants were in full effect throughout the first quarter, and there was an audible gasp with nearly every shot throughout the night.

‘It’s special, everyone felt the energy, the atmosphere was amazing,’ said Knicks forward Josh Hart. ‘I mean it was hard to put it in words, that’s something in MSG that you dream of growing up as a little kid so.’ 

Jalen Brunson also commented on the impact the crowd made following the game when he said: They were electric, they were riled up….Being in this environment there is no replica, there is nothing that comes close to it and I’m just happy to be a part of it. 

Jalen Brunson flexes for Knicks fans in Game 3 of their first-round series with the Cavaliers

Spike Lee celebrates as the Knicks pull out a 20-point win over the visiting Cavaliers

Star power forward Julius Randle was even showered with ‘MVP’ chants during the win

Star power forward Julius Randle was even showered with ‘MVP’ chants during his first trip to the foul line en route to a modest 11-point performance. Later on, during Jalen Brunson also received MVP chants as he took free throws in the fourth quarter. Brunson led the team with 21 points on 10 of 18 shooting from the field.

The energy levels maintain high during a timeout towards the end of the first when Knicks legend Latrell Sprewell was shown on the video board after a short montage. Later on, in the evening Bernard King was also shown and received a similar ovation from the MSG faithful

Noise levels remained at what seemed like an all-time high throughout the second quarter and into halftime as New York was able to secure a 13-point lead going into the intermission.

A one-sided third quarter saw New York extent the lead to a 17-point gap that received a standing ovation as the clock expired. During a free throw taken by Josh Hart the crowd could be heard breaking into a serenade of ‘Cleveland sucks’ chants.

New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) reacts after a made 3-pointer on Friday

Cavs point guard Darius Garland appeared to pick up an injury after he tripped over a camera man following a missed layup and quickly subbed out of the game afterwards.

During a timeout midway through the fourth quarter the good vibes throughout the world’s most famous arena during a single along of ‘it’s up to you New York’ as the arena belted out their hearts to the famed tune, including the previously mentioned Sprewell who made his way onto the video board once again from his courtside seat.

A successful fourth quarter alley-oop from Obi Toppin that also drew a foul call left the arena in a standing ovation that was followed by an inaudibly loud chant. Upon checking out with just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter Toppin was given another ovation and met with chants of ‘Obi Obi Obi’ as he sat down following his 11 minutes of game time.

The despite the acoustically beautiful game the loudest ovation of the night came with 2:30 minutes left in the fourth quarter when beloved veteran point guard Derrick Rose checked into the game after fans had been calling for him to play for several minutes. Rose fell out of the Knicks rotation early in the season and has rarely featured since then.

‘They gonna cheer for him every time,’ said RJ Barrett. ‘To be on a team with him, it’s surreal sometimes.’ 

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts during the fourth quarter

Barrett also received loud praise from the crowd after rebounding from a horrible Game 2 in Cleveland to finish second on the team with 19 points on 8-12 shooting.

‘It’s the garden man, you know what can I say it was loud, fun to play in man,’ Barrett said of the atmosphere. ‘As a basketball player you grow up thinking about moments like these. It was electric in there.’

He also responded to a question about when he had known his shot turned around after struggling the first two games to which he responded by looking to the PR rep and saying: ‘It’s Friday? Wednesday. No seriously Wednesday, i just been working at it.’

The two teams will meet again in what will be an equally loud mid-day game on Sunday at 1pm in MSG.