NBA: Cavs mount massive rally, but Knicks still clinch No. 3 seed
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, right, and Max Strus react after winning an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Friday, April 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Darius Garland scored 13 fourth-quarter points Friday night for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who overcame a 23-point first-half deficit to beat the host New York Knicks 108-102 in the penultimate regular-season game for both teams.
Despite the loss, the Knicks (50-31) clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference by virtue of the Indiana Pacers’ 129-115 loss to the Orlando Magic earlier Friday. New York is one game ahead of the Pacers (49-32), but owns the tiebreaker after winning their season series 2-1.
The Knicks will face the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, which begin next week.
READ: NBA: Pacers edge Cavaliers, secure 1st round homecourt edge
Garland finished with 26 points for the top-seeded Cavaliers (64-17), who clinched the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed two games ago and have rested their rotation players liberally since. Leading scorer Donovan Mitchell missed a third straight contest with a left ankle sprain while De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill all sat out after starting Thursday’s 114-112 loss to the Pacers.
Jarrett Allen (11 points, 13 rebounds) posted a double-double for the Cavaliers. Max Strus had 19 points while Evan Mobley finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Isaac Okoro (15 points) and Craig Porter Jr. (11 points) each got into double figures off the bench.
Jalen Brunson scored 27 points for the Knicks, who finished the season 1-11 against the Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets – the teams with the top four records in the NBA.
READ: NBA: Cavaliers rout Bulls, clinch East No. 1 seed
Mikal Bridges had 17 points and OG Anunoby scored 15 points. Landry Shamet added 15 points while fellow reserve Miles McBride finished with 12 points.
Brunson and McBride scored 11 points apiece during a 41-18 run that bridged the first two quarters and gave the Knicks a 48-25 lead with 8:50 left in the opening half.
The Cavaliers got as close as eight points in the second and three points in the third before Garland mounted his own 11-6 run to give Cleveland a 97-95 lead with five minutes left. Strus’ 3-pointer snapped a tie with 3:14 left and put the visitors ahead for good at 101-98. The Knicks were 2 of 9 from the field the rest of the way.
