CLEVELAND — Tension Builds for the Knicks

The Knicks, it seems, are on the brink of something big.

It’s almost in their grasp.

The Eastern Conference trophy will be in the building on Monday, just waiting to be claimed.

They’re so close to what’s become their goal this season.

One more win, and they’re there—a moment they narrowly missed last year, after chasing it since 1999.

Following their 121-108 victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday night at Rocket Arena, the Knicks are just one win away from a strong 3-0 series lead.

This could mean back-to-back impressive sweeps.

The Cavaliers have a tagline: “Let Em Know.” It was everywhere around the arena, emblazoned on flags that flew above fans before the game.

Yet, in this game, they were reminded—perhaps painfully—that they just can’t compete.

The Knicks achieved a fifth straight playoff win on the road by double digits, an NBA record tie.

The final score doesn’t fully capture the dominance they displayed, given their ongoing 10-game winning streak.

It felt so close, though.

While the Cavs tied the game twice, they never led. The Knicks maintained control for most of the match.

Reflecting on their performance since the beginning of the playoff round, the Knicks seemed unthreatened.

As they kicked off the fourth quarter with five quick points, taking a 14-point lead, the noise in the arena faded, even with a strong showing from Knicks fans.

It seemed the Cavaliers were beginning to falter.

With Landry Shamet sinking three consecutive 3-pointers, the lead was pushed back to 14 midway through the quarter.

Then OG Anunoby’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 17 with just over five minutes left, and it had the feeling of a game-set match.

The scoring was surprisingly even among the starters.

Karl-Anthony Towns came out strong with 11 points early, finishing with 13.

Jalen Brunson started slow but came alive in the second half, scoring 30 points after 12 in the third quarter.

Mikal Bridges put up 22 points, and Anunoby, back from a hamstring injury, matched him with 21. Josh Hart contributed another 12.

Bridges’ progress has been noteworthy. He was 11 for 15 from the field, though only one of those was a three-pointer. His drive to the basket has increased since joining the team, and he frequently set up teammates for open layups.

The Knicks dominated the fast break, holding a 17-4 advantage, with Bridges playing a crucial role.

Towns found his rhythm again after a couple of games off, taking only nine shots but providing seven assists.

Defensively, the Knicks weren’t quite as strong as before, but they didn’t need to be. The game became a shootout in the second half, and once they took a lead, that was sufficient.

In fact, the team shot an impressive 70.6 percent from the field in the first quarter. Bridges and Anunoby both capitalized, going 3-for-3 and 2-for-2, respectively.

Yet, there was one player who wasn’t quite hitting his mark. Brunson was 1-of-4, missing all three attempts from beyond the arc. Despite this, he found a way to contribute.

Following that hot first quarter, scoring dropped, and the team focused on mid-range opportunities. Brunson may have struggled with his 3-pointers throughout the series, but ultimately, the Knicks are just focused on what lies ahead.