FILE – Ricky Rubio #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers puts up a shot against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at Ball Arena on October 25, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
Ricky Rubio had the most prolific game of his 11-year career Sunday night, when the Cleveland Cavaliers guard drained eight 3-pointers and finished with 37 points and 10 assists to lead the visitors to a 126-109 win over the New York Knicks.
The Cavaliers have won four in a row to move three games over .500 (7-4) for just the second time since LeBron James left for the Los Angeles Lakers following the 2017-18 season. The Knicks (6-4) have lost three of four.
The 3-pointers and points each shattered the previous career highs for Rubio, who hit six 3-pointers for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 30, 2017 and finished with 34 points for the Utah Jazz on Feb. 3, 2018.
Putting on a show in The Garden 👀@rickyrubio9 drops a career-high 37 PTS with a career-high 8 3PM in the @cavs win in NYC! pic.twitter.com/XYqh7hdQRH
— NBA (@NBA) November 8, 2021
Rubio was 2-for-2 from 3-point land in the first half Sunday before heating up in the third period, when he hit all four of his attempts from beyond the arc in a span of 3:14 to fuel the Cavaliers, who outscored the Knicks 33-18 in the period to take an 89-75 lead. Rubio’s first 3-pointer of the period gave Cleveland the lead for good at 62-59.
In the fourth quarter, Rubio hit each of his first two 3-point attempts, the last of which sparked a 9-0 run that extended the Cavaliers’ lead to 112-97 and extinguished any comeback hopes for the Knicks.
Rubio missed his final 3-point attempt with 1:21 left, which cost him a chance to become the first NBA player to go 8-for-8 or better from beyond the arc since Ben Gordon was 9-for-9 for the Detroit Pistons on Mar. 21, 2012. Rubio’s effort was the most efficient from long range since Anthony Edwards went 8-for-9 on 3-pointers for the Minnesota Timberwolves on May 5, 2021.
Jarrett Allen had a double-double (18 points, 17 rebounds) for the Cavaliers while Evan Mobley finished with 26 points and nine rebounds. Darius Garland added 16 points for Cleveland, which was 19-of-35 from 3-point land.
Julius Randle led the Knicks with 19 points while Derrick Rose had 17 points and Evan Fournier finished with 15 points. Reserves Immanuel Quickley (12 points), Obi Toppin (11 points) and Alec Burks (10 points) also got into double figures.