December 27, 2024

Knicks on verge of reaching 2nd round for 1st time in decade

Knicks #Knicks

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and guard Caris LeVert in the second half of Game 4 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Knicks won 102-93. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) © Provided by The Associated Press – Sports New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and guard Caris LeVert in the second half of Game 4 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Knicks won 102-93. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 29 points, RJ Barrett had 26 and the New York Knicks took a 3-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first-round series with a 102-93 victory on Sunday.

Josh Hart moved into the starting lineup and added 19 points and seven rebounds for the fifth-seeded Knicks, who would reach the second round for the first time since 2013 if they take this series.

New York forced Cleveland All-Star Donovan Mitchell into one of the worst games of his postseason career, finishing with just 11 points on 5-for-18 shooting.

Darius Garland had 23 points and 10 assists for the Cavs, while Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert each scored 14.

Game 5 is Wednesday in Cleveland.

WARRIORS 126, KINGS 125

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 32 points but gave Sacramento a late chance when he called a timeout Golden State didn’t have, and the defending champion Warriors held on to beat the Kings when Harrison Barnes missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, evening their playoff series at two games apiece.

De’Aaron Fox had 38 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Sacramento. His 3-pointer with 28.7 seconds left pulled the Kings within one, and then Curry missed a 16-foot jumper on the other end and Keegan Murray corralled the rebound. With Curry and Draymond Green defending, Fox dished to former Warrior Barnes for the potential game-winning 3, which hit the back of the rim.

Klay Thompson made a baseline 3-pointer to beat the third-quarter buzzer and another with 3:24 left, finishing with 26 points for the Warriors.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Sacramento.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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