NBA, New York Knicks in the Finals: 4-0 in Cleveland

Ecstasy Knicks. The New York team also destroys the Cavaliers in game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, produces its second consecutive coat and with the eleventh victory in a row, which certifies a magical moment, it snatches the ticket for its first NBA Finals since 1999. Another performance of character for a team that seems to have found an incredible rhythm. Cleveland does too little to put these red-hot Knicks in difficulty and they win easily 130-93. There are so many New York fans at the Rocket Arena, the chant “Let’s go Knicks” accompanies the entire pre-match. The New York team immediately shows the eyes of the tiger, as if not wanting to disappoint the fans who arrived en masse in Cleveland.

sprint start

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The Cavs for their part start off strong, with Mitchell and Mobley leading the way, but at the first difficulty they melt away. Bridges continues to do excellent things this postseason, Towns immediately finds the basket from long range and the visiting team begins to take control of the match midway through the first quarter. The Cavs’ defense in transition is desolate, too many comfortable baskets arrive for the Knicks who certainly don’t need help from their opponents, considering their extraordinary moment of form. The end of the first half is a New York monologue with the Knicks doing what they want and arriving at the end of the opening quarter ahead 38-26. Things get bad for the Cavs who go completely crazy at the beginning of the second half. The excellent impact of Robinson and McBride allows New York to escape. The home team commits turnovers in series, giving way to the 12-0 run with which New York begins the half. The +20 Knicks exalts the New York fans in the stands who make themselves heard to the point that the home speaker raises the volume of the music in the arena to impressive levels. The guests continue to defend with incredible aggression, making the Cavs understand that it will take a real feat to pull off the comeback. Shamet decides to join the party and with his long-range shots gives the Knicks an incredible +29.

reaction

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In the most complicated moment at least the Cavs try to show off their pride. A previously absolutely impalpable Harden starts attacking the basket and goes to the line, pushing Cleveland to an unexpected 15-3 run which brings them back to -17 which will become -19 at the break. The mountain to climb remains very complicated for the home team but at least they don’t raise the white flag and try to play it out. With their backs against the wall and the season about to end, the Cavs produced their best effort at the start of the second half. Mitchell tries to shake up his team and Cleveland, also thanks to some distractions from the New York defense, reaches -16. No problem, however, for the Knicks who, as soon as they feel the Cavs breathing down their necks, start playing their basketball again. The result was a 12-0 run, boosted by the baskets of Bridges and Anunoby, which brought New York back to +28 and sent the Cavaliers on holiday. The Cleveland fans begin to leave at the beginning of the fourth period, leaving the Rocket Arena entirely to the Knicks fans who can celebrate after many, too many, years of disappointments.

Cleveland: Mitchell 31 (4/9, 5/9, 8/10 TL), Mobley 15, Harden 12. Rebounds: Mobley 7. Assists: Mobley 4.

New York: Towns 19 (5/8, 3/3), Anunoby 17, Shamet 16. Rebounds: Towns 14. Assists: Hart 6.