The defending champion New York Knicks just snatched a huge 109-97 road win against James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, moving their record to 5-4 after shaking off a rough 0-3 start to the season. This squad, the reigning champs, opened the year looking like they had championship blues, but they’re finally clicking.
Brunson and KAT Go Nuclear on the Road
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns absolutely went off, leading the charge for the Knicks. Brunson poured in 31 points, dished out nine assists, and grabbed six boards in 34 minutes. He was red-hot from the jump, tallying 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists in the first half alone to secure a 10-point lead going into the break. Then there’s KAT, who put up 29 points, a monster 13 rebounds, and three steals, also in 34 minutes. He had an explosive second half, building on his 18 points and six rebounds by halftime. Anunoby added 15 points, while Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet chipped in nine points apiece. The Knicks, who were 4.5-point favorites, proved why, dominating with a strong third quarter and taking an 18-point lead into the fourth. That’s how you close out a road game, folks.
Harden Hits a Wall, Mitchell Fights Solo
On the Cavaliers’ side, it was a tale of two stars. Donovan Mitchell did everything he could, racking up an incredible 37 points, along with four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in 37 minutes. He led the team with 11 points by halftime and kept battling. But James Harden? He struggled big time. Harden finished with just seven points, two rebounds, and five assists in 34 minutes, only managing five points, two rebounds, and three assists by the half. When your star guard can’t get going, it’s tough to win, especially against the defending champs. Evan Mobley and Peyton Watson each added 12 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Knicks’ surge, dropping Cleveland to a 5-5 record.
The Knicks are back in action on Tuesday when they host the Milwaukee Bucks. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, will hit the road to face the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. The champions are finding their stride, and the rest of the league needs to take notice!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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