The New York Knicks (1-2) expected a rock fight when they hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0) tonight at Madison Square Garden. When two of the league’s top defenses clash, bruises are on the menu.
After a gawdawful first-quarter shooting display by both teams, New York rebounded to outscore Cleveland 34-23 in the second and took a 52-45 halftime lead. Cleveland responded with a 29-point third quarter, cutting it to 78-74, then took the lead in the fourth behind Darius Garland’s 34 points. Cleveland shot 11-of-17 in the final quarter, outscoring New York by ten to secure a 110-104 win.