The Cleveland Cavaliers used a dominant third quarter and a balanced offensive effort to put away the New York Knicks 109-94 on Tuesday night at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 23 points, James Harden contributed 20, and Jarrett Allen was a force in the paint, finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. After the Knicks trimmed the deficit in the second quarter, Cleveland reasserted control in the third and never looked back, improving to 37-22 on the season in front of 19,432 fans on a nationally televised Peacock broadcast.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Cavaliers Come Out Firing
Cleveland set the tone early, outscoring New York 35-26 in the opening period. The Cavaliers moved the ball efficiently and got quality looks on offense, while their defense forced the Knicks into uncomfortable possessions. Mitchell was active right from the opening tip, and the home crowd at Rocket Arena was energized throughout a strong opening frame for the Wine and Gold.
Second Quarter: Knicks Respond, Cut Into the Lead
New York found its footing in the second quarter, winning the period 28-25 to make it a competitive game heading into the locker room. The Knicks tightened things up defensively and got more consistent production offensively, bringing the halftime score to 60-54 in Cleveland’s favor. Mikal Bridges, who led the Knicks with 20 points on the night, was particularly active in keeping New York in the game through the first two quarters.
Third Quarter: Cleveland Slams the Door
The third quarter was where this game was decided. Cleveland held New York to just 11 points — a number that tells the whole story — while scoring 23 of their own to extend the lead to 83-65 entering the fourth. It was a defensive masterclass from the Cavaliers, who clamped down on ball movement, contested perimeter shots, and denied easy looks in the paint. The Knicks went cold at the worst possible time, and Cleveland made them pay.
Fourth Quarter: Knicks Avoid the Blowout, But Too Little Too Late
With the game well in hand, New York won the fourth quarter 29-26, making the final margin look slightly more respectable at 109-94. Cleveland managed the clock and their rotation effectively, while the Knicks played with more urgency but couldn’t generate enough stops to mount a genuine threat. The final score of 109-94 fairly reflects Cleveland’s control over the second half of this contest.
Key Performers
Donovan Mitchell — Cleveland Cavaliers | 23 Points
Mitchell was the most dynamic offensive player on the floor Tuesday night. The guard was assertive from early in the game, mixing mid-range pull-ups with drives to the rim and spot-up threes. His ability to create separation and score in multiple ways set the tone for a Cleveland offense that spread the floor effectively all night. Mitchell’s leadership was evident particularly in the third quarter, when the Cavaliers needed someone to signal that the game was over.
James Harden — Cleveland Cavaliers | 20 Points
Harden’s 20-point contribution was a study in patience and efficiency. Known for his ability to work at his own pace and get to the free-throw line, Harden gave Cleveland a reliable secondary scoring option and helped orchestrate an offense that finished with 23 assists on 37 field goals made. His playmaking stretched New York’s defense and created open looks for teammates throughout the game.
Jarrett Allen — Cleveland Cavaliers | 19 Points, 10 Rebounds
Allen was the game’s highest-rated player by ESPN’s performance metrics, and for good reason. The center posted a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, anchoring Cleveland’s interior on both ends. Allen’s rebounding gave the Cavaliers second-chance opportunities and helped Cleveland end the night with a significant edge on the boards — the team finished with 44 total rebounds.
Dennis Schroder — Cleveland Cavaliers | 5 Assists
Schroder led the Cavaliers in assists with 5, serving as an effective connective piece in the backcourt. His ball movement and ability to push pace in transition contributed to Cleveland’s 23-assist team total, a number that reflects how well the ball moved in their half-court sets throughout the night.
Mikal Bridges — New York Knicks | 20 Points
Bridges led the Knicks in scoring with 20 points and was their most consistent offensive weapon on the night. He did what he could to keep New York competitive, particularly in the first half, but even his efforts couldn’t overcome the Cavaliers’ third-quarter defensive onslaught. Bridges has been a reliable option for New York, but on this night the supporting cast didn’t provide enough to keep pace with Cleveland.
Game Analysis
The defining stretch of this game was a third quarter that the Cavaliers owned completely. Holding the Knicks to just 11 points in a single quarter in the modern NBA is a significant defensive achievement, and it spoke to how well Cleveland was communicating on that end — contesting shots, maintaining rotations, and limiting New York’s transition opportunities.
Offensively, Cleveland’s balance was a problem the Knicks had no clean answer for. When you have to account for Mitchell’s scoring threat, Harden’s ability to draw fouls and create, and Allen’s interior presence simultaneously, defensive schemes are forced to make uncomfortable compromises. Cleveland shot 42.5% from the field overall, including 37.1% from three on 35 attempts, and made 22 of 30 free-throw attempts — a volume that points to how often the Cavaliers attacked the basket and drew contact.
For New York, the 11-point third quarter is the number the coaching staff will examine most closely. The Knicks showed they could compete in stretches — winning the second and fourth quarters — but the inability to sustain defensive stops in the critical third period ultimately made the game one-sided. At 94 total points, New York’s offense never fully clicked in a way that kept the game genuinely in the balance.
Standings and Series Context
With the win, the Cleveland Cavaliers move to 37-22 on the season, a strong position as the second half of the NBA calendar heats up heading toward the playoffs. Cleveland has proven to be a legitimate Eastern Conference contender this season, and a balanced rotation featuring multiple 20-point scorers makes them a difficult matchup for any opponent. The New York Knicks, meanwhile, will look to regroup and get back on track in upcoming contests. For both teams, every game in the final stretch carries playoff seeding implications, and Tuesday’s result is a reminder of just how fine the margins can be — and how critical third-quarter performances are in deciding outcomes at this level.
