The Knickerbocker faithful had to wait until well into Saturday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers to celebrate, but New York ended up beating their hosts 101-97 on the road and took a solid 1-0 first-round series lead.
“Our only game plan today was just win,” Jalen Brunson said after the game. “Whatever it took. Whatever was needed.”
And that’s what the Knicks did, outrebounding the on-paper frontcourt-loaded Cavaliers 51-38 on the day that marked Julius Randle’s return to the court after missing the final five games of the regular season and undergoing a 17-day rehab period.