In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Knicks will face the Cavaliers. After the Knicks won the first game 101-97 and the Cavs won the second game 107-90 in Cleveland, the series is tied 1-1.
Update status for Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Julius Randle in Game 3
The Knicks finished the regular season with a 47-35 record and are the fifth seed in this postseason.
This has been a long time coming for Knicks fans. This is only the second time since the 2012-13 season that New York has made only one playoff appearance. The Knicks were eliminated in five games by the Hawks in the first round of the 2021 playoffs.
New York’s postseason has been spearheaded by Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
Brunson is averaging 23.5 points per game in the postseason after averaging 24 in the regular season.
Meanwhile, Randle is averaging 20.5 points per game and 9.0 rebounds in the first two playoff games after leading the team in scoring and rebounding with 25.1 points per game and 10.0 rebounds throughout the regular season.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers concluded the regular season with a 51-31 record, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavaliers are making their first postseason trip since LeBron James was on the team that lost to the Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals.
Cleveland is 43-37-4 against the spread this season (including the playoffs), but the Cavs are only 18-20-3 on the road.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 28.3 points per game, while Darius Garland was second with 21.6 points per game and a team-high 7.8 assists per game.
In the first two postseason games, Mitchell has averaged 27.5 points per game and 10.5 assists per game, while Garland has averaged 24.5 points and 4.0 assists.
In Game 3 against the Knicks, both Cavs stars will be required to lead the team.
The Cavaliers will hope for greater consistency from the rest of their young core after the remarkable guard combo of Garland and Mitchell.
Caris LeVert has been a player with ups and downs this season. In Game 1, LeVert went 1 for 7, finishing with three points, then rebounded to go 9 for 16, finishing with 24 points in Game 2.
For injury, Cedi Osman will be a game-time decision against the Knicks in Game 3.
Osman could miss his first game since March 8th. He played 19 and 23 minutes in the first two games of the series, so his absence may result in more playing time for Danny Green, Lamar Stevens, and Isaac Okoro.
Meanwhile, Dylan Windler (foot) will miss this game.
Windler only appeared in three regular-season games and will miss his third playoff game in a row. It’s unclear when he’ll return, but his extended absence will have minimal impact on the rotation.
