On Sunday, the New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 102-93, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in their opening-round playoff series. With the Knicks only a victory away from advancing in the postseason for the first time in a decade, New York fans are unsurprisingly excited.
After the Knicks took Game 4 at Madison Square Garden, fans hit the streets to celebrate while making sure Donovan Mitchell knew that he was traded to the wrong team last September.
In arguably the season’s biggest game for either team, the Knicks kept the Cavaliers’ All-Star in check all afternoon. Mitchell finished with 11 points, shooting a paltry 5-of-18 from the field while missing all four attempts from beyond the arc. Furthermore, New York held Mitchell to only two points in the second half.
Mitchell, who Cleveland acquired ahead of the 2022-23 season in exchange for three unprotected first-rounders and three players, was slowed down most of the game by a second-round pick, Miles “Deuce” McBride.
After the game, the Knicks’ reserve didn’t seem intimidated by Mitchell, telling reporters he would take “any challenge” the team gave him.
“I’m not gonna back down from anybody,” McBride said via SNY. “Obviously, I was fortunate enough to get this chance to go out there and play, and I just want to show what I can do.”
While McBride and the Knicks’ defensive effort kept Mitchell at bay, the trio of Jalen Brunson, R.J. Barrett and Josh Hart went wild.
Brunson led the Knicks with 29 points, shooting 11-of-22 from the field and 5-of-9 from three, adding six assists and six rebounds.
Barrett struggled from beyond the arc, finishing 0-for-6, but shined otherwise, posting 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor.
Meanwhile, Hart ended the game with 19 points, shooting 7-of-16, nailing one of four three-point attempts with seven rebounds and two assists.
New York hopes to close out the series and advance past the first round for the first time since 2013 when they travel to Cleveland for Game 5 Wednesday at 7 p.m.
