Jalen Brunson was untouchable. Karl-Anthony Towns was unstoppable.
That was how the floor looked inside Rocket Arena on Saturday night, as the New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-97.
The game marked the first meeting between the two teams since New York swept last season’s Eastern Conference finals. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 31 points and added nine assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted 29 points and 13 rebounds to lift the Knicks to a 5-4 record.
Brunson Takes Over Second Quarter
The turning point arrived in the second period. Cleveland held a 39-37 lead before Brunson scored 18 consecutive points for New York in 4 minutes and 24 seconds.
The Knicks capitalized on the run to build a 63-53 advantage by halftime. New York then outscored Cleveland 25-17 in the third quarter to stretch the margin to 18 points heading into the final period.
Mitchell Leads Late Cavaliers Surge
Donovan Mitchell tried to spark a comeback in the fourth quarter. The Cleveland guard scored 21 of his game-high 37 points in the final frame. The Cavaliers took the fourth quarter 27-21, but a late jump shot from Brunson extinguished any hope of a full rally.
Both rosters dealt with several players missing. The Knicks played without Josh Hart, who missed his second straight contest due to a problem to the ankle. Cleveland took the floor without Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, and Sam Merrill following a win over Philadelphia the previous night.
Knicks Move Above .500 While Cavaliers Drop to 5-5
With the victory, the Knicks moved above .500 at 5-4, while the Cavaliers dropped to 5-5. New York returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Cleveland travels to face Charlotte on Monday.
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