Knicks sweep Cavs 130-93 in Game 4, advance to NBA Finals for 1st time since 1999

The New York Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals 130-93 in Game 4 on Monday, clinching their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999.

Karl Anthony-Towns had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and OG Anunoby scored 17 as New York secured the four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals, extending their historic playoff winning streak. 

Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench while Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson had 15 apiece for the Knicks, who became the fourth team to have an 11-game winning streak during their postseason run. The last to do it was Golden State, which had a 15-game run en route to its second title in three seasons in 2017.

All but one of the Knicks' wins have been by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 23.7 points. In close-out games this postseason, the Knicks beat Atlanta by 51, Philadelphia by 30, and now Cleveland by 37 on the road.

The Knicks led by as many as 29 points in the second quarter. The second half became just a formality as New York's largest lead reached 45 in the fourth quarter.

The Knicks pulled their starters with 7:47 remaining and a 35-point lead as their large contingent of fans loudly chanted "Knicks in four!" New York fans easily outnumbered Cleveland fans as die-hard celebrity fans director Spike Lee, comedian Tracy Morgan and actor Timothée Chalamet and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, made the trip.

"Our guys played great. You're in the conference finals and score 65 points off of offensive rebounds and fast break points. I don't know if I've seen that at this point of the year. We wanted to push the pace," coach Mike Brown said.

Going into the night, there were exactly 100 sweeps in 7-game series in NBA playoff history. Now there are 101.  

Knicks await Thunder-Spurs winner

The Knicks await the winner of the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. That series is tied 2-2. Game 5 to be played in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The Thunder or Spurs will have homecourt advantage when the finals start on June 3 because of a better regular-season record.

This will be the Knicks third appearance in the finals since winning their last title in 1973. They lost in seven games to Houston in 1994 and in five to San Antonio in 1999.  

Knicks legends Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Patrick Ewing presented the Bob Cousy Trophy to the Knicks on the court.

It is the 15th time since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976 that a coach has reached the finals in his first year with a team. The Knicks hired Brown after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau after they reached the Eastern Conference finals last year, but lost in six games to Indiana.

It will be Brown's second trip to the finals as a coach. His last trip was with Cleveland in 2007.

Brunson was named the MVP of the series after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists.  

New York dominates series against Cleveland

Donovan Mitchell had 31 points for Cleveland, which was swept in a postseason series for the first time since the 2018 NBA Finals against Golden State.

"They're playing better basketball. You got to give them credit. They're on a heater. I don't want to detract from what we've done, but sometimes you've got to give the other team credit," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Mitchell scored the Cavaliers first eight points as they jumped out to an 8-2 lead. Cleveland led for most of the first six minutes before New York took control.

Evan Mobley's putback dunk gave the Cavaliers a 17-14 advantage before the Knicks scored nine straight points.

A floater by Mitchell got Cleveland within 30-26 with 2:12 remaining in the first quarter when New York went on a 20-0 run over a five-minute span. The Knicks were 8 of 14 from the field, including four 3-pointers. The bench scored 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers by Shamet. The seventh-year guard was 11 of 12 from beyond the arc during the series.

Cleveland was 0 for 9 from the field during its drought, including missing all three shots from beyond the arc, and committed four turnovers.

The Knicks were up 68-49 at halftime. It was the fourth time this postseason the Knicks were up by at least 19 after 24 minutes.

Knicks already had four players in double figures in the first half. Towns had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Knicks fans celebrate Eastern Conference championship

Knicks fans crowded the street outside Madison Square Garden as New York closed in on its first conference title in 27 years. Click here to watch Chopper 2 over the scene. 

The NYPD said it would not support officials watch parties outside MSG due to rowdy crows and six arrests during Game 2 on Thursday, but that did not stop fans from throwing their own party there. 

The crowd outside the Garden appeared to be under control. 

Fans also packed Radio City Music Hall for an official Game 4 watch party, and they made sure to bring out the brooms.

Organizers said more than 5,000 fans attended the sold-out watch party, with Knicks cheerleaders, team alumni and live music to hype up the crowd. 

Another official watch party was held at Brooklyn Bowl. Both events had stepped up NYPD security.