Knicks vs. Cavaliers live score, updates and highlights from 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 3

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May 24, 2026 - 02:27

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Knicks vs. Cavaliers live score, updates and highlights from 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Knicks will try to keep rolling Saturday night when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference finals, carrying a 2-0 series lead.

Mike Brown's team is also riding a nine-game playoff winning streak. An amazing feat considering all but one win came by a double-digit margin.

New York took control of the series with a 109-93 win in Game 2 behind 26 points from Josh Hart. The Knicks have not lost in exactly a month and have surged behind a balanced offense led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been a quiet piece to the Knicks output. Towns has averaged 6.9 assists over the past nine playoff games.

Cleveland faces a must-win scenario after letting Game 1 slip away and falling behind again in Game 2 despite 26 points from Donovan Mitchell. Evan Mobley continues to anchor the frontcourt, but the Cavaliers need a stronger all-around effort to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole before the series shifts deeper into Cleveland.

Game 3 will take place on Saturday May 23 from the Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Tip-off will be at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on camera Counter: 4

4th Quarter-10:19: Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges combine for five points to start the fourth quarter. The Knicks have extended their lead to 14. Cavs call a timeout in the first two minutes of the quarter.

*CLE is shooting 8-for-30 from three.

The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 91-82 after three quarters

3rd Quarter-0:54: James Harden walks Brunson into the paint, makes three different moves and scores at the bucket. Brunson fouled Harden on the play. Harden makes the extra free throw.

➕1️⃣ for Uno! @JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/YOdJZEN7gv— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 24, 2026

3rd Quarter-1:39: Sam Merrill makes a 25-foot three-point bank shot to break up the Knicks run. Knicks are up by 10.

Catch. Shoot. GOT IT. @smerrill05 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/JU5dNM0ehJ— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 24, 2026

3rd Quarter-3:41: Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby lead a Knicks 8-1 run. Knicks now up by 13.

3rd Quarter-5:02: Jalen Brunson picked up his dribble and Sam Merrill forced a turnover. CLE could not convert on the other end. Resulting a run out with OG Anunoby dunking on the Knicks end. Knicks up by seven.

poetry in motion. pic.twitter.com/7INEUkwLDC— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 24, 2026

3rd Quarter-5:39: Max Strus hits a 22-foot three-point shot to get back to within 6.

3rd Quarter-7:29: Mikal Bridges makes two point-blank shots on consecutive possessions.

3rd Quarter-9:05: Both teams trade threes and twos on the first four possessions to start the second half. Knicks still ahead by six.

1st Half Team Stats

	NYK	CLE
FG	21-37	22-41
Field Goal %	57	54
3PT	5-13	4-19
Three Point %	38	21
FT	13-14	6-11
Free Throw %	93	55
Rebounds	16	18
Offensive Rebounds	3	5
Defensive Rebounds	13	13
Assists	13	8
Steals	4	3
Blocks	2	0
Total Turnovers	8	9
Points Conceded Off Turnovers	9	10
Fast Break Points	11	0
Points in Paint	18	28
Fouls	11	11
Technical Fouls	0	0
Flagrant Fouls	0	0
Largest Lead	10	0
Percent Led	92	0

The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 60-54 at halftime

2nd Quarter-0:30: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot to close out the half.

2nd Quarter-0:38: The Knicks have gone on a 8-0 run since Hart's pick and finish.

2nd Quarter-2:51: Donovan Mitchell runs from the top of the key, but Josh Hart pops the ball out directly to Towns who passed the ball back out to Hart, who finished at the other end with an almost dunk.

2nd Quarter-4:04: Jalen Brunson secures a rebound off an Evan Mobley miss in the paint and proceeded to push a Tyus Edny like coast-to-coast sprint and finishes at the other end virtually unimpeded.

2nd Quarter-5:40: CLE is on a 9-5 run and have pulled to within two.

2nd Quarter-7:04: James Harden makes a two-point shot around Anunoby giving CLE their first lead in this game.

2nd Quarter-7:31: After almost committing a turnover,Jaylon Tyson makes a layup but was body checked midair by Mitchell Robinson. Tyson made the extra free throw.

💪‼️💯😈😤. @jaylontyson | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Wb0rwiU8Or— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 24, 2026

2nd Quarter-9:41: Jose Alvarado is called for a foul. That foul put CLE in the bonus with nine minutes remaining.

2nd Quarter-10:39: After a sloppy start to the second quarter, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley make two close range shots. Lead is down to six.

The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 37-27 after the 1st quarter

1st Quarter-0:49: Both teams go 0-for-3 on three-point attempts until Dennis Schroder broke that streak by hitting a 25-foot three.

1st Quarter-3:46: Following the unsuccessful challenge, Karl Anthony Towns makes two consecutive shots in the paint to extend the Knicks lead.

1st Quarter-4:51: Karl Anthony Towns is called for defensive goaltending. The Knicks challenged that call. The call was upheld; Knicks lose their timeout and cannot challenge the rest of the game.

1st Quarter-5:57: Karl Anthony Towns remains aggressive and gets fouled and makes four free throws in two consecutive Knicks possessions.

1st Quarter-7:05: Cavs surge and get close, but the Knicks get a series of midrange jump shots from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to maintain their three-point lead.

1st Quarter-9:15: After a sleepwalking start by the Cavs, they pull within 2 on back to back Jarrett Allen points in the paint (layup, dunk).

1st Quarter-10:06: The Knicks jump out to a quick 9-1 run. Including a Karl Anthony Town three point shot to start the game.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are courtside for Knicks/Cavaliers Game 3 👀 pic.twitter.com/HohyP1ZJZd— NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2026

clean. pic.twitter.com/KRUvqRdrVj— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 23, 2026

GAM3 THR33 FITS. @Sprite | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/1IillO0gfp— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 23, 2026

The NYPD has canceled watch parties outside Madison Square Garden due to 'rowdiness' from Knicks fans, per the New York Post.

As many as 6,000 fans have congregated around the parties, with six arrests being made during Game 2. pic.twitter.com/TDKuuBrFVD— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 23, 2026