The New York Knicks completed a 4-0 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. They secured the sweep with a dominant 130-93 victory in Game 4 on May 25, 2026, in Cleveland [1, 2, 3, 4].
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks in the clinching game with 19 points and 14 rebounds, contributing to an 11-game playoff winning streak for the team—a franchise record and the third longest in a single NBA postseason [1, 3, 4]. Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists throughout the series [1, 3, 5]. Brunson said, "It means a lot, but I wouldn't be here without my teammates, the belief they had in me. They give me the confidence. They let me be me. Most importantly, we all believe in each other from top to bottom. It's an honour to play with them." [1]
The Knicks staged a dramatic comeback in Game 1, overcoming a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 115-104 in overtime, marking the second-biggest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history [6, 7, 8]. Forward Josh Hart said Brunson’s leadership kept the team steady, adding, "He's an even keel, he doesn't let us get too high or too low. Even games like this when we're up 15 or 20, he wants to make sure we're doubling down on our habits." [3]
Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell was the series' top scorer, including 31 points in the final game. Mitchell acknowledged the setback but said, "We've had some tough ones, but it's one loss. It's one. So we have an opportunity to come back here in two days and steal one here." [1, 3, 6]
The Knicks last reached the NBA Finals in 1999, when they lost 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs. They have not won an NBA title since 1973 [1, 2, 9, 5]. Team President Leon Rose, hired in March 2020, has overseen the transformation from perennial playoff struggler to title contender [2, 9, 5, 10]. New York City celebrated the Finals berth with fans waving brooms symbolizing the sweep, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani joked, "@NYCSanitation I'd like to report a sweep." [2, 9, 5, 10]
Despite their success and record winning streak, the Knicks enter the NBA Finals as underdogs [2, 9, 5, 10]. They will face the Western Conference champion, which will be determined by the outcome of the series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. That series is tied 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for May 26, 2026 [11, 4, 12]. The Finals are set to begin June 3, 2026 [2, 9, 4].
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder, while the Spurs rely on French rising star Victor Wembanyama, who stands 7 feet 4 inches tall [11, 4, 12]. Knicks guard Landry Shamet said, "We're going to enjoy it for a day or two but we've got a larger goal here and we've got to start locking in." [11]
