The New York Knicks easily defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in front of a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden. It started in the first quarter when the Knicks finished the quarter up 38-21. This one was over from the start and the Cavaliers really looked bad. The Knicks allowed the Cavaliers to come within 14 points of tying the game, but they were able to put this one away with some big baskets and nice plays. New York went on to defeat Cleveland 117-86.
The Knicks were led by Carmelo Anthony who scored 29 points in 30 minutes. Anthony came out red hot to start this game as he scored 20 points in the opening quarter. He cooled off after the first quarter, but what he gave New York early was something they needed.
But the real story of this game was the play of Tim Hardaway Jr. His play was very strong the entire game and his shot was in prime form. He connected on six three-pointers to tie a Knicks rookie record. He has played really well this season, but the stretch he’s on is really nice to see. His play has led to an increase in minutes. Tonight he ran the floor well and defended nicely as well. Hardaway finished with a career high 29 points in 30 minutes as his play continues to help the team.
The Cavaliers are just bad, real bad. They showed zero effort and really looked as if they didn’t want to play. This was very surprising to see considering all the improvements they made during the offseason. Kyrie Irving scored 24 points to lead the Cavaliers, but he also looked uninspired. His backcourt mate Dion Waiters scored 21 points off the bench. Those were really the only nice stats for the Cavaliers.
Overall this game was just a blowout from the start. The competitiveness was gone and the ability to watch this game quickly was gone. But overall it was a solid win for New York as they continue to show signs of life. They now have put together solid wins and are quickly putting themselves back into the playoff picture. The Knicks will have a tough test Saturday night when they face the World Champion Miami Heat.
Photo Credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
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