New York Knicks take 3-0 lead

The New York Knicks moved within one win of the NBA Finals on Saturday, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Rocket Arena. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Mikal Bridges added 22 and OG Anunoby had 21 as New York led throughout, according to NBA.com. The result gave the Knicks a 3-0 series lead and extended their playoff winning streak to 10 games. The NBA schedule lists Game 4 for Monday, May 25, in Cleveland. ### How did New York put Cleveland on the brink? New York shot 55.8% from the field, made 11 3-pointers and went 24-for-27 from the foul line in Game 3, according to NBA.com. Karl-Anthony Towns added 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Knicks kept control of the game from the opening stretch through the fourth quarter. Cleveland got 24 points from Evan Mobley and 23 from Donovan Mitchell, while James Harden scored 19, NBA.com said. The Cavaliers shot 12-for-41 from 3-point range and 12-for-19 at the foul line. ### Which players set the tone in Game 3? Brunson’s 30 points led all Knicks scorers and gave New York another steady offensive anchor in the series. Bridges paired his 22 points with six rebounds, three steals and two blocks on 11-for-15 shooting, according to the NBA’s game recap. Anunoby’s 21 points gave New York a third scorer above 20 points. That balance has been a theme in the series, with the Knicks getting production from multiple starters rather than relying on one late scoring burst. ### How unusual is a 3-0 lead for this Knicks team? The Knicks became one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 with the Game 3 victory, according to the NBA recap. NBA.com also said New York is the seventh team in league history to win at least 10 straight games during a single postseason run. The same recap said all but one of the Knicks’ playoff wins have come by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 22.5 points. Knicks fans in Cleveland chanted “Knicks in four!” in the closing seconds, according to the Associated Press report carried on NBA.com. ### What did the Knicks say after the win? Karl-Anthony Towns said the Knicks were focused on the next game rather than the series lead. “We’ve just have to keep our mind on the task at hand. The game is over and we found a way to win. We have to execute at a high level in Game 4,” Towns said, according to the AP report on NBA.com. That comment came after another game in which New York controlled long stretches on both ends. The Knicks have now put Cleveland in a position where one more loss ends the Cavaliers’ season. ### Was there anything else notable in the arena? Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attended the game in Cleveland, according to the AP report published by NBA.com. The appearance drew attention in and around Rocket Arena, though it did not change the result as the Cavaliers fell into a 3-0 deficit. Cleveland Heights native Kelce and Swift were shown courtside during the Eastern Conference finals game, adding a celebrity subplot to a night dominated by New York’s lead on the floor. ### When is the next game, and where? The NBA schedule lists Game 4 for Monday, May 25, at 8:00 p.m. ET in Cleveland. If the Cavaliers extend the series, Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, with the Knicks still holding a 3-0 lead entering Monday night.