New York’s dominant defense and balanced offensive attack completed a 4-0 sweep of Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a decisive 130–93 victory on May 26, 2026. The Knicks’ 37-point margin of victory was their most dominant performance of the series, with multiple contributors scoring in double figures. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 19 points and 14 rebounds on 72.7% shooting (8-of-11) with 3 three-pointers on perfect shooting. Landry Shamet contributed 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting with 4 three-pointers on 100% accuracy. OG Anunoby added 17 points on 46.2% shooting. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points on 50.0% shooting (9-of-18) with 5 three-pointers, but limited support from teammates proved insufficient. Evan Mobley contributed 15 points and 7 rebounds. New York’s superior offensive execution and elite defense limited Cleveland to 93 points, establishing dominance that the Cavaliers could never match throughout the game.
Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 26 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 93 |
| New York Knicks | 38 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 130 |
Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | Cleveland Cavaliers | New York Knicks |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 32-77 (41.6%) | 48-98 (49.0%) |
| Three-Pointers | 11-40 (27.5%) | 19-43 (44.2%) |
| Free Throws | 18-22 (81.8%) | 15-20 (75.0%) |
| Rebounds | 38 (6 OFF) | 67 (20 OFF) |
| Assists | 21 | 33 |
| Turnovers | 22 | 15 |
| Steals | 9 | 15 |
| Blocks | 4 | 2 |
| Points in Paint | 36 | 50 |
| Bench Points | 24 | 58 |
| Biggest Lead | 6 | 45 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 18 | 34 |
New York Knicks Player Stats
| Player | Pos | FG | 3P | FT | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | C | 8/11 | 3/3 | — | 19 | 14 | 3 | 2 |
| Landry Shamet | G | 5/6 | 4/4 | 2/2 | 16 | — | 2 | 1 |
| OG Anunoby | F | 6/13 | 1/5 | 4/4 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Mikal Bridges | G | 4/16 | 1/8 | 6/6 | 15 | 3 | 5 | — |
| Miles McBride | G | 4/6 | 3/5 | — | 11 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Jalen Brunson | G | 6/14 | 2/5 | 1/2 | 15 | 2 | 5 | — |
| Josh Hart | F | 2/5 | 1/3 | 1/2 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| Mitchell Robinson | C | 4/6 | — | — | 8 | 10 | — | 1 |
Team Totals: 48-98 FG (49.0%), 19-43 3P (44.2%), 15-20 FT (75.0%), 67 REB (20 OFF), 33 AST, 15 STL, 2 BLK, 130 PTS
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats
| Player | Pos | FG | 3P | FT | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | G | 9/18 | 5/9 | 8/10 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Evan Mobley | F | 7/15 | 1/4 | — | 15 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Jarrett Allen | C | 3/5 | — | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| James Harden | G | 2/8 | —/6 | 8/9 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Thomas Bryant | C | 4/7 | 2/5 | — | 10 | 3 | — | — |
| Max Strus | F | 2/6 | 1/4 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Sam Merrill | G | 2/4 | 1/2 | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | — |
Team Totals: 32-77 FG (41.6%), 11-40 3P (27.5%), 18-22 FT (81.8%), 38 REB (6 OFF), 21 AST, 9 STL, 4 BLK, 93 PTS
Key Takeaways
- New York Knicks defeated Cleveland Cavaliers 130–93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, completing a 4-0 series sweep with the most dominant performance of the playoff series.
- Karl-Anthony Towns’ 72.7% shooting (8-of-11) with a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range and 14 rebounds exemplified elite two-way production that showcased why Towns was crucial to New York’s championship run.
- New York’s 49.0% field goal percentage and 44.2% three-point percentage (19-of-43) demonstrated offensive efficiency and balanced scoring, with multiple contributors making their share of three-pointers.
- Cleveland’s 41.6% field goal shooting and 27.5% three-point percentage (11-of-40) reflected the Cavaliers’ offensive struggles against New York’s elite defense throughout the entire playoff series.
- New York’s 67 total rebounds to Cleveland’s 38 combined with 20 offensive rebounds gave the Knicks crucial second-chance opportunities, with 12 second-chance made baskets on 19 attempts (63.2%).
- Donovan Mitchell’s 31 points on 50.0% shooting showcased his individual brilliance, but limited support from teammates and turnovers proved insufficient to keep pace with New York’s balanced attack.
- New York’s 33 assists on 48 made field goals (0.688 assists per FG) demonstrated superior ball movement and unselfishness, while Cleveland’s 21 assists on 32 made field goals reflected less effective offensive execution.
- Landry Shamet’s 5-of-6 shooting performance (83.3%) with a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range provided crucial bench scoring that exemplified New York’s depth advantage over Cleveland.
- New York’s 15 turnovers compared to Cleveland’s 22 turnovers meant the Knicks generated 34 points off turnovers while holding the Cavaliers to just 18 points off turnovers, a 16-point swing directly impacting the outcome.
- New York’s 37-point margin of victory was the largest in the series, with a 45-point lead being the game’s biggest margin, demonstrating complete dominance across all four quarters.
Series Summary
Eastern Conference Semifinals: NYK defeats CLE 4-0
New York swept Cleveland in four games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they faced a 4-0 series win over Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks’ balanced scoring, elite defense, and superior depth proved overwhelming for the Cavaliers throughout the entire series.
