Jalen Brunson scores 23 points as Knicks send Cavs home in first playoff series win since 2013

Game Recap: Knicks 106, Cavaliers 95

The New York Knicks finished their first playoff series with dominance this season as they ousted the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95 in Game 5 on Wednesday. With this victory, New York reaches the second round of the playoffs. The last time they did so was in 2013.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks’ scoring chart with 23 points, followed by RJ Barrett’s 21 points and Sixth Man runner-up Immanuel Quickley’s 19. Mitchell Robinson made the most rebounds with 18 and Josh Hart with 12.

Brunson’s 23 points also put him into the franchise’s record book as the second player after Hall of Famer Walt Frazier, who scored at least 20 points in five playoff games. The former Maverick averaged a playoff career-high 24.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals in the last four games.

StatMuse

2023-04-27 01:10

Knicks point guards with 5+ 20-point games in a playoffs: — Jalen Brunson — Walt Frazier that’s it. https://t.co/ILldWbN71H

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Team’s reactions

Barrett congratulated Robinson’s outstanding rebound stats of 11 offensive and seven defensive rebounds of the night.

“That kinda says it all,” Barrett said, as per SNY. “He’s been great all series. We’ve needed every single rebound he got. He was great.”

Josh Hart sang the same tune as Barrett and could not agree more.

“Mitch did a great job,” Hart said. “He dominated on both sides of the board, especially on the offensive side. Giving us second chances. This series he showed he’s the top big man in the league. He’s going to anchor this defense and I look forward to seeing this continue.”

NBA on ESPN

2023-04-27 01:18

PUTBACK 😤 Mitchell Robinson is the first Knick with 10 OREB in a playoff game since Patrick Ewing in 1994 😳 https://t.co/XpE5MVRQ7l

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Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau saw Robinson as a key part of New York’s victory in Game 5 and believed they could progress even further with the 25-year-old on the team.

“I think [Robinson is] the best offensive rebounder in the league,” Thibodeau said.

“Sometimes he has two bodies on him and now his defensive rebounding is coming along now. The shot blocking, rim protection, pick and roll defense and his offense is coming along as well.”

Next up, the Knicks are hosting the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals starting this Sunday at Madison Square Garden.