{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
New York 130, Cleveland 116
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, March 31, 2023
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio
Officials: #9 Natalie Sago, #37 Eric Dalen, #14 Ed Malloy
Attendance: 19432

Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 48 points and outdueled Donovan Mitchell in a potential postseason preview Friday night, when the visiting New York Knicks pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 130-116 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks (45-33), in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, moved within three games of the fourth-place Cavaliers (48-30) and reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to one.

The Knicks also clinched the season series (3-1) against the Cavaliers on Friday. Whomever finishes fourth will have home court advantage in the first round.

The 48-point performance broke Brunson's career high by four points and his total was the highest by a Knicks point guard in the last 60 years. All four of Brunson's 40-point games have come this season, his first in New York.

Mitchell Robinson (10 points, 14 rebounds) had a double-double for the Knicks, who had seven players finish in double figures. RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley all had 14 points while Obi Toppin -- starting in place of the injured Julius Randle -- scored 12 points and Josh Hart added 11 points.

Mitchell finished with 42 points for the Cavaliers, who have lost two straight. Darius Garland had 20 points and Caris LeVert finished with 15 points while Evan Mobley and Cedi Osman each added 14 points.

Mitchell (23 points) and Brunson (21 points) set a frantic pace in the first quarter, during which the Cavaliers led by as many as eight before ending the period with a 47-42 lead. The 89 points were the most in a first quarter in the NBA this season.

The Cavaliers opened a 53-45 lead before the Knicks mounted a 24-9 run in which Brunson scored eight points. Grimes' 3-pointer with 5:15 left in the second snapped a 59-59 tie and gave New York the lead for good.

The Knicks led 79-72 at the half and 105-102 after three before taking control in the fourth with a 12-0 run in which Cleveland was 0-for-4 from the field. The hosts got no closer than seven thereafter.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
New York   Cleveland
Jalen Brunson 48 Scoring Donovan Mitchell 42
Jalen Brunson 9 Assists Darius Garland 9
Mitchell Robinson 14 Rebounds Evan Mobley 7
Jalen Brunson 5 Free Throws Made Donovan Mitchell 4
Isaiah Hartenstein 2 Steals Caris LeVert 1
Isaiah Hartenstein 3 Blocks Evan Mobley 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New York 130 52.7 17-36 15-24 24 48 5 6 10
Cleveland 116 51.2 17-37 11-13 33 33 9 2 10
Upcoming Games
  • Cleveland will play their next game at home against Indiana. The Cavaliers have a W/L % of .604 after a win and .633 after a loss.
  • New York will play their next game at home against Washington. The Knicks have a W/L % of .644 after a win and .485 after a loss.