Knicks complete Game 3 rout to take 3-0 series lead over Cavaliers

The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3 on Saturday night, moving to a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. The victory was New York’s 10th straight of the postseason and left the Knicks one win from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points and Mikal Bridges added 22 as New York never trailed, according to the Associated Press and Basketball-Reference. ### How lopsided was Game 3? The 121-108 final score did not fully capture how firmly New York controlled the game. The Knicks led from the opening quarter and kept Cleveland from making a serious late push, according to game coverage from AP and NBA.com. Basketball-Reference’s box score shows New York shot well enough across the lineup to keep its cushion intact, while Cleveland spent most of the night trying to cut into a deficit that never disappeared. (apnews.com) The Knicks’ 13-point margin followed wins by 11 and 16 points in the first two games of the series. ### Who drove the Knicks again? (apnews.com) Jalen Brunson led New York with 30 points in Game 3, and Mikal Bridges scored 22, AP reported. Brunson’s scoring set the tone for a Knicks offense that has relied on balanced production deep into this run. The broader streak has not been built on one close escape after another. (basketball-reference.com) NBA.com said New York entered Game 3 having won nine straight playoff games by an average of 23.5 points, and Saturday’s result pushed that run to 10 in a row. The Washington Post said the streak began after the Knicks trailed Atlanta 2-1 in the first round, then won three straight against the Hawks, swept Philadelphia and took the first three against Cleveland. (apnews.com) ### How close are the Knicks to ending a 27-year wait? CBS Sports said the Knicks are one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. AP reported the same benchmark after Game 3, putting New York on the verge of winning the East for the first time in 27 years. The NBA’s playoff bracket shows the Knicks now hold a 3-0 edge over the Cavaliers in the best-of-seven series. (nba.com) No additional interpretation is needed from the standings: New York can close out the series in the next game. ### What happened to Cleveland’s chances? Cleveland returned home down 2-0 and needed a response in Game 3, but the Cavaliers dropped another game by double digits. (cbssports.com) AP said the Cavaliers were beaten again despite playing on their home floor, leaving them without a margin for error for the rest of the series. (nba.com) Yahoo Sports’ series schedule lists Cleveland as trailing 3-0 after losses on May 19, May 21 and May 23. The Cavaliers now must win four straight games to take the series back. That is an inference from the best-of-seven format and the published schedule. ### When is the next game? Monday, May 25, is the date of Game 4, according to Yahoo Sports’ playoff schedule and the NBA playoff bracket. (apnews.com) ESPN will carry the game, the NBA bracket page shows. June 3 is the scheduled date for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, according to Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports playoff schedules. (sports.yahoo.com) For now, the next step is simpler: New York gets its first chance Monday to eliminate Cleveland and claim the Eastern Conference title.