NBA: Cleveland Crushes New York in Eastern Conference Showdown

Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their lead in the NBA standings and strengthened their hold on the Eastern Conference with a dominant 142-105 victory over third-placed New York Knicks on Friday. Meanwhile, Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City also secured a big win against Utah Jazz.

Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell led the way with 27 points, topping a list of six players who scored in double digits for the team. He hit five three-pointers out of seven attempts, contributing to the team’s 19 successful three-pointers overall.

Cleveland (46 wins, 10 losses) outperformed New York in points in the paint (66-38) and fast-break points (23-6), extending their lead to 42 points at one stage, securing their sixth consecutive win.

Evan Mobley added 21 points, while Jarrett Allen scored 10 before suffering a right-hand injury in the third quarter.

Cleveland also faced a scare when Darius Garland took a hard fall in the first half, hitting his head on the court, but he continued playing.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 26 points, with 16 coming in the first quarter, but he went scoreless in the second half as Cleveland led 77-50 at halftime.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 points for New York, but the team, now 37-19 in the Eastern standings, failed to beat any of the league’s top three teams this season—Cleveland, Boston Celtics (defending champions), and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Mitchell emphasized: “The key was setting the pace early.” He denied that the victory was related to the Knicks eliminating Cleveland in the first round of the 2022 Playoffs, or the possibility of facing them again this season.

He added: “For us, it’s about growth and progress. We’re evaluating ourselves and focusing on improvement.”

After a shocking loss to Minnesota before the All-Star break, Oklahoma City Thunder rebounded strongly, crushing Utah Jazz 130-107 on the road.

Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 21 points and 8 assists, while Chet Holmgren contributed 20 points, and Jalen Williams added 18 points and 9 rebounds.

Oklahoma City now holds a 45-10 record, maintaining a solid lead over Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets (both 37-19) in the Western Conference.

In Orlando, Memphis secured a dramatic 105-104 victory over Magic, thanks to Ja Morant’s clutch basket with 1:50 minutes left, followed by a decisive free throw from Desmond Bane.

Morant led the winners with 23 points, while Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. each scored 16. Jackson also blocked a potential game-winning shot from Paolo Banchero in the final moments.

In Houston, Jalen Green exploded for 35 points, while Alperen Sengun recorded 24 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Rockets to a 121-115 win over Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards scored 37 points for the Timberwolves but managed just 3 points in the final quarter, as the Rockets, who led by 14 points early on, held firm to secure the victory.

In Washington, Kyle Kuzma scored 19 points in his first game against the Milwaukee Bucks since being traded from the Wizards earlier this month, helping his new team to a 104-101 win.

Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points in just 19 minutes, struggling with fouls before fouling out with 3:37 minutes left.

Meanwhile, veteran Khris Middleton, who was part of the trade for Kuzma, scored 12 points against his former team, including a three-pointer that cut the deficit to 102-101 in the final minute.

However, Brook Lopez sealed the win with two clutch three-pointers and a crucial block on Middleton’s last-second attempt.

Elsewhere, Kyrie Irving dropped 35 points, guiding the Dallas Mavericks to a 111-103 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, marking their third consecutive win.

Cade Cunningham registered 25 points and 12 assists, leading the Detroit Pistons to their fifth straight win with a 125-110 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.