The New York Knicks managed to get the best of the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 121-108 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Rocket Arena on Saturday, May 23.
The Cavaliers have dropped the first three games in the series and find themselves in a must-win situation.
No NBA team has come back to win a series after falling in a 3-0 deficit. Only three teams have even rallied to force a Game 7 after losing the first three games in a series.
Nobody has come back against the Knicks, who have taken the commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
More: Travis Kelce chugs beer as he sits courtside with Taylor Swift at Knicks-Cavs game
The Knicks produced an early 10-point lead, finishing the first quarter against the Cavaliers at 37-27.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed to the fast start with 11 points in 11 minutes of play in the opening quarter. He finished the game with 13 points.
The Cavs outscored the Knicks in the second quarter, 27-23, to make it a six-point game with both teams going back to the locker room.
Cleveland had managed to keep the game close throughout the opening minutes of the third before the Knicks went on another run to build up a 13-point lead late in the third.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points and six assists in 41 minutes played. Mikal Bridges added 22 points by shooting 11-for-15 from the field.
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Stars continue to show up during the Eastern Conference finals as the Knicks face the Cavaliers.
See familiar faces in the crowd as the series shifts to Cleveland.
Above, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Stars continue to show up during the Eastern Conference finals as the Knicks face the Cavaliers.
See familiar faces in the crowd as the series shifts to Cleveland.
Above, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs Singer Taylor Swift attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift react on the sideline during the first quarter between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena.
(David Richard, Imagn Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Travis Kelce reacts on the sideline during the first quarter between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena.
(David Richard, Imagn Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs Singer Taylor Swift attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs Singer Taylor Swift attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Singer Taylor Swift attends Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spotted at Cavaliers vs. Knicks game
Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Knicks remain hot
The Knicks have won 10 straight games, having not lost since suffering back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks in April.
It is the sixth time in the Knicks’ history that they’ve produced five or more double-digit victories in a postseason.
“Our mindset hasn’t changed,” Brunson said. “We are trying to get better every day. … We are always looking for ways to get better.”
Before Saturday’s game, the Knicks’ postseason stretch had come at the right time, having the best point differential (212 points) during any nine-game span in NBA history, including both the regular season and playoffs.
Cavaliers will have to regroup
The Cavaliers struggled to match the Knicks in Game 3 and never held a lead in the game.
The Cavs struggled from the 3-point line, shooting just 12 of 41 (29%) from long range on Saturday.
When do Knicks and Cavaliers play next?
The Cavaliers will host the Knicks for Game 4 of the series on Monday, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. The Knicks need one more victory to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks thinking NBA Finals as they push Cavaliers to brink: Takeaways
