Comfortably sitting atop the Eastern Conference, with 60 wins secured before April, Kenny Atkinson’s Cleveland Cavaliers are in pursuit of their best record in franchise history. They host the New York Knicks, holding their own at third in the conference and seeking back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since 1993-95. Elmsford, N.Y. native Donovan Mitchell seems to get up for Knicks matchups, while Karl-Anthony Towns goes against the Cavs’ exceptional frontcourt.
How to watch New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland avenged a rare loss (133-122 at Detroit on Friday) by beating the Clippers on Sunday afternoon. Jarrett Allen went 11-for-12 at the rim and finished with a 25-12 double-double. Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley each hit multiple 3s, while the bench mob made another eight from behind the arc.
The Cavs’ electric, hyper-smooth offense is down to 18th in shooting percentage and just 27th in clutch-time efficiency across its last 15 tries. They’re still 10-5 in that stretch, thanks to a low turnover rate and a lighter schedule, and they’ll still be the team to beat come elimination ball.
New York enters the week having won four of five. Mikal Bridges went off against the Blazers on Sunday, following up on last month’s sensational “double bang” in Portland. OG Anunoby had an efficient 28 points in that game, while leading the way past Milwaukee on Friday with a laborious 31 (9-for-21 shooting). Josh Hart is in triple-double mode. Towns will draw the attention of all-league level bigs in Allen and Mobley.
Jalen Brunson announced Sunday that he intends to make it back before the end of the regular season. The All-NBA point guard has been shelved since a March 6 ankle sprain. The Cavs have won both of their meetings with the Knicks thus far and dog-walked them last time, 142-105.
Starting five of players to wear both jerseys:
- Walt Frazier
- Gerald Wilkins
- J.R. Smith
- Campy Russell
- Channing Frye
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(Photo of Karl-Anthony Towns: Angelina Katsanis / Getty Images)