Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett Lift Knicks Past Cavs in Game 4

Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett Lift Knicks Past Cavs in Game 4

Joel Reyes
updated at April 24, 2023 at 7:14 AM
  • The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4
  • Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett combined for 55 points in the win
  • Donovan Mitchell had one of the worst games of his playoff career

The New York Knicks moved within a win of their first playoff series victory since 2013, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 in Game 4 on Sunday.

Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett starred for the Knicks, who now hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 5 is Wednesday in Cleveland.

Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, New York Knicks, Julius Randle, Josh Hart
Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. Images: Nathaniel S. Butler
Source: Getty Images

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in scoring with 29 points. He shot 11 of 22 from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. He also had six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block in 43 minutes of action.

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Barrett loves playing at home

Barrett continued his fine play in Game 4, scoring 26 points on 9 of 18 shooting.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for Barrett, who struggled in the series' first two games. He shot just 6 of 25 from the floor in Cleveland, per ESPN.

Barrett has found his shooting stroke in New York, with Knicks fans even chanting his name in the second half of Game 4 to praise him for his outstanding play.

Barrett scored five straight points in the fourth quarter, which helped the Knicks break free from a 75-all deadlock.

Coach Tom Thibodeau also made a tactical masterstroke by inserting Josh Hart into the starting lineup. He finished the game with 19 points and seven rebounds.

Thibodeau also decided to bench Julius Randle in the fourth quarter after struggling offensively in Game 4. He scored just seven points in 27 minutes.

That move paid dividends, as the Knicks played much better with Randle on the bench. They outscored Cleveland 29-22 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Mitchell struggles against Knicks' defense

Just like in Game 3, the Knicks’ defense took center stage in Game 4. They put the clamps on Cavs’ main scorer Donovan Mitchell, limiting him to just 11 points on 5 of 18 shooting.

Darius Garland bounced back after a rough shooting night in Game 3, posting a double-double with 23 points and 10 assists.

Suns take 3-1 series lead

Sports Brief recently reported on the Suns' win over the Clippers in Game 4.

Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul combined for 80 points in Phoenix's 112-100 victory.

They now hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.