Matt Johnson
The New York Knicks have dominated the Eastern Conference Finals to this point, winning the first two games at home with a +27 point differential. Heading into Game 3 on Saturday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers are effectively in a must-win scenario tonight.
Let’s dive into our predictions for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns Puts Up 15-15-5 Line
The Cavaliers have really had no great answers for Karl-Anthony Towns in the Eastern Conference Finals. Even in Game 1, when he shot just 42.9% from the field and 1-for-5 from the perimeter, he still had 5 assists, 2 stocks and 13 rebounds to go with 13 points. He completely erased his turnover issues in Game 2, logging zero giveaways while recording 13 rebounds for the second consecutive game. With all the trouble the Cavaliers are having with him, we see that effort continuing on Saturday night. With both teams shooting under 45%, there’ll be more opportunities on the glass for KAT. He’ll finish tonight with 15 rebounds, 15-plus points, and 5 assists.
James Harden Records More Turnovers Than Shots Made
James Harden will have a strong performance in the Eastern Conference Finals. We just don’t see it happening tonight. He didn’t turn the ball over in Game 2, but he also shot just 6 of 15 from the field. In the last three games, he has shot just 4 for 21 (19.5%) from beyond the arc and only 13 of 41 (31.7%) from the field. Harden is already being exploited defensively, and he has not offered much as a playmaker, logging six turnovers versus five assists in the series. The woes will continue in Game 3, with Harden turning it over seven times and shooting 5 of 14 from the field.
Donovan Mitchell Drops a 30-Burger
The Cavaliers need Donovan Mitchell to return to the form that swung the series against the Detroit Pistons. In that second-round series with Cleveland in an 0-2 hole, Mitchell came out with 78 combined points in the next two games at home and shot 50% or better from the field in both contests. On a night where we see Harden struggling, Mitchell will be a bright spot for the Cavaliers. He is going to need to get up 25-plus shots for the Cavs to even have a shot to win tonight, but the All-Star guard will deliver 35-plus points in Game 3.
New York Knicks Win Game 3, 114-103
The Knicks’ win streak continues on Saturday night. It won’t be a Josh Hart game, as his volume and efficiency from beyond the arc regress back to the norm. No matter, Jalen Brunson will be the hero once more. With a chance to put the Knicks on the doorstep of a trip to the NBA Finals, Brunson puts up 26 points and 12 assists. Fittingly, he saves his best for clutch time with double-digit points in the fourth quarter that buries the Cavaliers for good.
