The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-97 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday night. The Knicks were led by the stellar performances of point guard Jalen Brunson and power forward Julius Randle.
Brunson scored a team-high 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while also dishing out seven assists. He was a key contributor in the second half, as he scored 11 points in the third quarter to help the Knicks take a commanding lead. Brunson also made a number of key plays down the stretch, including a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory for the Knicks.
Randle also had a great game for the Knicks, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. He was a force on both ends of the floor, as he was able to score inside and out, while also providing a strong defensive presence in the paint. Randle was especially effective in the fourth quarter, as he scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in the final period to help secure the win for the Knicks.
The Cavaliers were led by Collin Sexton, who scored a game-high 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Sexton was able to keep the Cavaliers in the game with his scoring, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the strong performances of Brunson and Randle.
The Knicks will look to take a 2-0 series lead when they face off against the Cavaliers again on Monday night. If Brunson and Randle can continue to play at a high level, the Knicks should be able to take a commanding lead in the series.
