Knicks vs. Cavaliers final score, results: Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals after a 37-point rout to sweep the Cavaliers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New York Knicks have won Game 4 and swept the Cleveland Cavaliers. By winning this series, the Knicks advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. To put that into context, the Knicks star and leader Jalen Brunson was two years old when the Knicks last appeared in the NBA Finals. Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father, was a 3rd string PG on that 1999 Knicks team.
To call this a ‘game’ is a bit of a stretch. This game was competitive until two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Cleveland came out looking like the aggressor but that did not last long. With less than a minute into the second quarter, the Knicks had built a 14-point lead. That 14-point lead would become as much as a 33 point Knicks lead.
After the start of the second quarter, this game was never in doubt. Free throw percentage was the only offensive category CLE won in this matchup. The Knicks almost doubled the Cavs in 3P%. The Knicks outrebounded the Cavs by almost two-to-one. The Knicks would go onto lead this game 88% of the time.
The Knicks will go on to face the winner of the Spurs vs Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. While many fans are likely rooting for a Knicks-Thunder Finals, if the Spurs come out of the West it will set up the same Finals matchup as 1999, the last time the Knicks made it that far.
For Cleveland, the outlook is much more doom ‘n gloom. The Cavaliers are coming off an embarrassing end to a frustrating season where they had the most expensive payroll in the entire NBA. Head Coach Kenny Atkinson is likely to find himself on the hotseat after getting swept in a series where he made little to no adjustments. This Cavs team also began to look fatigued as far back as Game 5 vs Detroit in the previous series. There will be decisions made about Atkinson and newest addition James Harden who was inconsistent at best in these playoffs.
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Knicks vs. Cavaliers live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 4
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1999, THE NEW YORK KNICKS ARE HEADED TO THE NBA FINALS 🚨
4-0 SERIES WIN OVER CLEVELAND.
11 STRAIGHT POSTSEASON VICTORIES. pic.twitter.com/g4vChSY0xc
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2026
Final Game Team Stats
| NYK | CLE | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 48-99 | 32-77 |
| Field Goal % | 48 | 42 |
| 3PT | 19-43 | 11-40 |
| Three Point % | 44 | 28 |
| FT | 15-20 | 18-22 |
| Free Throw % | 75 | 82 |
| Rebounds | 60 | 33 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 20 | 6 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 40 | 27 |
| Assists | 33 | 21 |
| Steals | 15 | 9 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Total Turnovers | 15 | 22 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 18 | 34 |
| Fast Break Points | 33 | 9 |
| Points in Paint | 50 | 36 |
| Fouls | 20 | 18 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 45 | 6 |
| Percent Led | 88 | 11 |
The New York Knicks have defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers and are headed to the NBA Finals
4th Quarter-1:59: Jordan Clarkson missed an elbow three, with three Cavaliers within two feet of the ball, Ariel Hukporti comes up with the rebound and goes up with a two handed emphatic dunk.
4th Quarter-3:06: Tyler Kolek strikes again from three, the Knicks lead is now +43.
4th Quarter-4:03: Knicks bench players Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet make consecutive three-point shots.
4th Quarter-6:25: Jordan Clarkson hit a 26-foot three-point shot. Extending the Knicks lead to 38.
4th Quarter-8:22: The Knicks have pulled their starters up by 33.
4th Quarter-8:37: OG Anunoby makes a 2-foot running dunk, extending the lead to 33.
OG SLAM 💥@RealChalamet approves 👏
New York has a commanding lead in Q4 of Game 4! pic.twitter.com/HAzB0xvoLf
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2026
4th Quarter-9:55: Miles McBride makes a 24-foot three-point shot. That makes 15 made threes for the Knicks. The Knicks lead is now 31.
4th Quarter-10:42: Karl Anthony Towns makes a driving layup and the Knicks cross the century mark on the first made basket of the 4th quarter. 100-71 Knicks.
The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-71 after three quarters
3rd Quarter-1:22: Evan Mobley makes a 1-foot alley oop dunk. The Knicks lead is +27.
3rd Quarter-2:37: Landry Shamet continues his production off the bench with another three-point shot. Shamet has 16 points while shooting 5 for 6 from the field and 100% from three.
BAAAAANG‼️ pic.twitter.com/FywGwgR07L
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 26, 2026
3rd Quarter-3:08: Mitchell Robinson (NYK) and Evan Mobley (CLE) trade short range dunks.
3rd Quarter-4:13: Sam Merrill makes a 9-foot running jump shot to slow the run. Knicks extend the run to 17-5. Knicks lead is not +26.
3rd Quarter-6:03: Donovan MItchell makes a 25-foot three point step back shot. Knicks lead in 25.
3rd Quarter-6:53: Anunoby and Towns combine for 6 points on three possessions, all within 2 feet of the basket. The Knicks are on a 12-0 run.
YOO OG YOU’RE JUST SO TOUGH BRO. pic.twitter.com/1UiUx1bm8c
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 26, 2026
3rd Quarter-7:44: OG Anunoby makes makes dunk with Bruson with the assist.
3rd Quarter-7:58: Towns and Bridges hit three point shots on consecutive possessions. Knicks lead is 25.
3rd Quarter-11:32: Cavs begin the secon half with a short range Jarrett Allen alley oop dunk.
1st Half Team Stats
| NYK | CLE | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 25-48 | 15-38 |
| Field Goal % | 52 | 39 |
| 3PT | 10-23 | 7-21 |
| Three Point % | 43 | 33 |
| FT | 8-12 | 12-13 |
| Free Throw % | 67 | 92 |
| Rebounds | 26 | 17 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 | 2 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 19 | 15 |
| Assists | 17 | 8 |
| Steals | 6 | 3 |
| Blocks | 1 | 3 |
| Total Turnovers | 4 | 9 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 5 | 18 |
| Fast Break Points | 26 | 3 |
| Points in Paint | 26 | 12 |
| Fouls | 9 | 9 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 29 | 6 |
| Percent Led | 76 | 23 |
The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 68-49 at halftime
2nd Quarter-1:27: Mikal Bridges makes an impossible fall away jumper from the near corner with the shot clock expiring. Knicks lead is 19.
Bridges fades away in style 👏
A wild jumper to beat the shot clock!
New York leads by 19 at the break in Game 4 of the East Finals 🍿 pic.twitter.com/FDuZXsV4f3
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2026
2nd Quarter-2:19: Donovan Mitchell hits an open three-point shot. Knicks lead is under 20 (-19) since the 10-minute mark of the second quarter.
2nd Quarter-3:43: Josh Hart draws a shooting foul from Donovan Mitchell. That is Mitchell’s 3rd foul and the Knicks are in the bonus. Hart makes 1 of 2 free throws. Knicks are up 20.
2nd Quarter-4:25: Evan Mobley goes at Towns with two fouls. Mobley scored within two feet, but Towns did not take the bait. Knicks lead is now 22.
2nd Quarter-5:42: Landry Shamet (NYK) and Max Strus (CLE) hit threes on consecutive possessions. Knicks lead is 26.
he just can’t miss 🫡
9 PTS | 3/3 FG pic.twitter.com/Y6irSgcOha
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 26, 2026
2nd Quarter-8:07: OG Anunoby (NYK) and Donovan Mitchell (CLE) trade three point baskets. Knicks lead up to 21.
2nd Quarter-9:25: Evan Mobley loses the back attempting to ISO McBride and loses control of the ball. Jose Alvarado picks up the loose ball and finished at the rim.
2nd Quarter-10:27: The Knicks are on an 8-0 run to start the quarter including three-point shots from Miles McBride and Landry Shamet. The Knicks are now up +20.
LANDRY SHAMET. pic.twitter.com/cxhhWq2j7X
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 26, 2026
The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 38-26 after one quarter
1st Quarter-1:35: Jalen Brunson walks the ball, doesn’t get picked up, hits a step back three. The Knicks lead is now 10.
1st Quarter-2:22: Sam Merrill (CLE) and Mitchell Robinson (NYK) hit back-to-back threes. Knicks lead is 5.
1st Quarter-3:54: Mikal Bridges and Mitchell Robinson work the pick ‘n roll, CLE focused on Bridges allowing him to lob to Robinson. Alley oop finish, Knicks up by 4.
1st Quarter-5:24: Brunson attempted to iso vs Dean Wade, where Brunson is giving up seven inches. His layup got blocked out of bounds. On the subsequent inbounds Anunoby finds an open Towns for three. That basket gives the Knicks their first lead.
1st Quarter-6:01: After a missed James Harden three and a longrebound, OG Anunoby finds a cutting Towns for a running dunk. The Cavs lead remains +3.
1st Quarter-7:25: The bigs are now getting involved from deep. Evan Mobley (CLE) and Karl Anthony Towns (NYK) connect on back-to-back 25-foot threes.
EV FOR 3. @evanmobley | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/lLdQYZsHkE
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 26, 2026
1st Quarter-9:56: Donovan Mitchell and Josh Hart trade three pointers. Knick pull to within 3.
1st Quarter-10:50: Cavaliers jump out to a 5-0 lead to start the game including a 25-foot three from Donovan Mitchell.
Some of the Knicks pulled up in all-black for Game 4 😯
Will New York advance to the Finals tonight?
8 PM ET on ESPN and the ESPN App 🍿 pic.twitter.com/nFdtNk29YG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 25, 2026
HUGE police presence outside of Radio City Music Hall for the Knicks Game 4 Watch Party, the pep talk included: “If they win, it’s gonna get rowdy.” A cop told me that they are going be dispersed throughout the area.
Tonight’s event is sold out / at capacity at 6K fans…… pic.twitter.com/KVJ4pE28wB
— Jennifer X. Williams (@JenXperience) May 25, 2026
How to Watch Game 4 Eastern Conference Finals: New York Knicks (3-0) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3)
Saturday, May 25
Tip-off: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
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