The New York Knicks returned home for Game 3 of their NBA playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers and turned in an old-school performance.
The Knicks allowed just 79 points Friday, the fewest points allowed in an NBA game this season.
New York Knicks fans are seen during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Filmmaker Shelton Jackson «Spike» Lee watches the game wearing a Knicks jersey. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In today’s NBA, with both teams regularly scoring in the 100s while 3-pointers rain down, New York became the first team to make the playoffs or the nba regular season keep a team below 80 points.
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«I thought we had a good activity overall,» Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau he said, according to ESPN. «Good intensity, guys were connected, they did a good job challenging shots and finishing.»
The Cavs struggled all night from the floor, going 31-80 from the field while shooting just 21.2% from beyond the three-point line.
«We were locked in,» Knicks guard jalen brunson saying. «Just a credit to the coaching staff, preparing and everyone just focusing on our game plan and executing and everyone on the same page.»
Jalen Brunson, number 11 of the New York Knicks, celebrates during the first round, third game of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 21, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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New York also forced 20 cleveland turnovers and turned them into 28 points.
«I think at first it was nerves,» Cleveland head coach JB Bickerstaff said. «As the game went on, it was more about confidence than anything else. We stopped trusting to do the right thing and tried to do a lot of things on our own. Once that happens, it starts seeping into our defense, the same We’re not in our places, we’re not doing the things that we need to do to get the stops that we’re capable of getting.»
Spike Lee celebrates during Round One, Game Three of the 2023 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks on April 21, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Cavs had just 32 points at halftime, making just 13 shots and committing 12 turnovers.
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«It was unpleasant, like a lot of games with them this season,» Cavs guard Caris LeVert said.
The Knicks and Cavaliers play Game 4 of their first-round series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.