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The Garden audience is not ready for this.
The New York Knicks destroyed the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93, capping a dominant four-game sweep to reach the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 1999.
The Knicks controlled Game 4 from the opening tip, racing out to a double-digit lead and never letting Cleveland get back into the game.
New York buried 19 of 43 3-pointers while dominating the rebounding game.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrates during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 25, 2026. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
OutKick founder Clay Travis summed up Cleveland’s no-show effort perfectly…
“The Cavs just left this series after the fourth quarter collapse in Game 1. Embarrassing effort since then,” Travis wrote on X. “Congrats to the Knicks, party like it’s 1999.”
The blowout capped a stunning collapse for Cleveland, which entered the series considered by many to be the East’s most complete team.
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With more than eight minutes left in the fourth quarter of Game 4, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson pulled his starters, effectively clinching the series as the Knicks turned the final minutes into a celebration.
On Sunday, Atkinson told reporters he believed the Cavaliers had “analytically” won two of the first three games. Instead, New York responded with overwhelming physical dominance.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the third quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is defended by James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter of Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 25, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Karl-Anthony Towns anchored the interior with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense without committing a turnover.
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Even Donovan Mitchell’s 31-point performance wasn’t enough to keep Cleveland competitive as the Knicks’ defense stifled the Cavaliers’ perimeter offense for the fourth straight game.
The win also marked New York’s sixth straight road win in the playoffs.
The Finals appearance serves as massive validation for the organization after the Knicks moved on from Tom Thibodeau after last season and hired Mike Brown amid much skepticism and immense pressure to win right away. Under Brown, the Knicks have become the NBA’s hottest team with an unbeaten streak of more than a month in the Finals.
New York will now face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, which begin on June 3.
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The road to the Larry O’Brien Trophy runs through Madison Square Garden.
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