New York beat Cleveland with the strength of their defense.

The New York Knicks won 99-79 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the 1st round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs held at Madison Square Garden in New York on the 22nd (Korean time).

New York, supported by their ardent home fans, captured Game 3 and took a 2-1 lead in the series. It was a victory won after showing a more solid defense against Cleveland, the best defensive team with the league’s defensive rating (110.6) 토토사이트and average run average (106.9).  

In New York, Julius Randle (11 points) struggled with Yatoo hunting, but Jaylen Brunson scored 21 points to win. RJ Barrett, who survived Game 3, also played a big role, scoring 19 points. The defense that tied the opponent to 79 points was the driving force behind the victory.

Cleveland suffered a severe offensive sluggishness as if they were intimidated by the heat of the New York home crowd, and suffered a crushing defeat by 20 points. The team’s field goal rate was 38.8% (31/80), and the 3-point success rate was only 21.2% (7/33). Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and Caris LeVert (17 points) came back to life in the second half, but could not prevent defeat.

In the first quarter, both teams struggled to score in the low-scoring aspect. New York took the lead with Barrett, who showed a good shot, but Cleveland did not back down as Mitchell struggled. The first quarter ended with the score tied at 17-17. 

A crack appeared in the second quarter. New York, supported by bench units, took the lead by adding points from Randall and Brunson. It was painful for Cleveland that Lebert (0/6) and Darius Garland (1/12), who did well in the second game, threw a total of 18 field goals in the first half, only making one successful. Still well defended, New York finished the second quarter with a score of 45-32.

As the third quarter began, Cleveland launched a counterattack with Lebert, who suffered from a severe slump in the first half, reviving. However, New York also did not easily hand over the initiative, scoring with Brunson and Randall at the center. 

Barrett and Josh Hart’s outer cannon passed the rim, maintaining a double-digit score difference. Rather, New York, which widened the gap by taking advantage of the opponent’s slowdown at the end of the quarter, ended the third quarter with a score of 72-55.

There was no turnaround in the fourth quarter. New York, which was not pushed back in the bench section, calmed the opponent’s pursuit by showing Orbie Taupin’s 3-point shot and an exciting dunk. New York, fueled by the momentum, widened the score gap to 26 points with Brunson and Hart’s points, and eventually Cleveland, who was losing, called key players to the bench.

New York fans celebrated the victory by welcoming Derrick Rose to the game with enthusiastic support at the end of the game. As if in response, Rose helped Topin’s alley-oop dunk with a wonderful pass.