Knicks Beat Cavaliers 109-97 Behind Brunson’s 31 Points

The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-97 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, led by Jalen Brunson’s 31 points and nine assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points and 13 rebounds at Rocket Arena as New York’s productive middle quarters proved enough to overcome Donovan Mitchell’s game-high 37 points.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Cavaliers Take a Narrow Lead

Cleveland finished the opening quarter ahead 27-26. That one-point advantage was the Cavaliers’ only lead at a quarter break, with New York taking control over the next two periods.

Second Quarter: Knicks Move Ahead

New York delivered its highest-scoring quarter of the night, outscoring Cleveland 37-26. The 11-point difference turned a one-point deficit into a 63-53 halftime lead and gave the Knicks a cushion they would maintain through the remaining quarter breaks.

Third Quarter: New York Extends the Margin

The Knicks outscored the Cavaliers 25-17 in the third quarter, extending their advantage to 88-70. Cleveland’s 17 points marked its lowest-scoring period, while New York continued to build on its second-quarter progress.

Fourth Quarter: Cleveland Gains Ground, but Knicks Finish Ahead

Cleveland won the final quarter 27-21, trimming six points from the deficit. That improvement was not enough to erase New York’s 18-point lead entering the period, and the Knicks finished with a 12-point road victory in regulation.

Key Performers

• Jalen Brunson, Knicks: Led New York with 31 points and nine assists, combining scoring production with the team’s highest assist total.
• Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: Recorded a double-double with 29 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. He and Brunson combined for 60 of New York’s 109 points.
• Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: Led all scorers with 37 points, accounting for more than a third of Cleveland’s offense.
• Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: Led Cleveland with nine rebounds and five assists.

NerdSports Stat: The Knicks outscored the Cavaliers 62-43 across the second and third quarters—a 19-point advantage—even though Cleveland won the first and fourth quarters by a combined seven points.

Game Analysis: Equal Shooting Percentages, Different Results

Both teams finished at 42.7% from the field, but New York generated substantially more attempts. The Knicks made 41 of 96 shots, compared with Cleveland’s 35 of 82, giving the visitors six additional field goals on 14 more attempts.

New York also held a 49-40 rebounding advantage and finished with 27 assists to Cleveland’s 21. Towns supplied 13 of those rebounds, while Brunson accounted for a third of the Knicks’ assists.

Cleveland had a slight edge from beyond the arc, making 16 of 50 attempts for 32.0%. New York went 14-for-44, or 31.8%. The Cavaliers’ two additional 3-pointers could not offset the Knicks’ greater overall field-goal total and better free-throw results.

At the line, New York converted 13 of 14 attempts for 92.9%, while Cleveland made 11 of 19 for 57.9%. Despite taking five fewer free throws, the Knicks scored two more points there. Combined with their middle-quarter advantage, those differences helped New York come away with the win.

Closing Context: Knicks Improve to 5-4

The victory moved New York to 5-4 overall and 2-2 on the road, while Cleveland dropped to 5-5 overall and 4-2 at home. The Knicks moved above .500 in the Eastern Conference’s early-season standings, while the Cavaliers returned to an even record. Cleveland next faces the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, November 9, at 4:00 p.m. PST; New York next faces the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, November 10, at 4:30 p.m. PST.

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