The New York Knicks opened their season with a 119–111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in front of 19,812 fans at Madison Square Garden.
The matchup tipped off at 3:00 AM on October 23, 2025, and featured several strong individual performances, led by OG Anunoby and Donovan Mitchell.
New York controlled much of the game with a dominant first half, while Cleveland surged in the third quarter before the Knicks sealed the result in the final period.
Anunoby finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 23 points to guide the Knicks to victory.
Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points but could not prevent Cleveland from dropping its season opener.
Game Timeline
| Quarter | Key Event | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Knicks surge behind early scoring from Brunson and Anunoby | NY 33-23 |
| Q2 | Knicks extend lead to double digits | NY 65-50 |
| Q3 | Cavaliers rally behind Mitchell and Mobley | NY 87-86 |
| Q4 | Knicks pull away late with strong free-throw shooting | NY 119-111 |
Key moments from the timeline:
- New York dominated the first half and built a 15-point advantage.
- Cleveland’s 37-point third quarter nearly erased the deficit.
- The Knicks closed the game with efficient shooting and rebounding.
Cavaliers Offensive Performance
Cleveland’s offense relied heavily on Mitchell, who carried the scoring load throughout the game.
Mitchell scored 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting and added five assists.
Forward Evan Mobley contributed 22 points and eight rebounds while providing strong interior defense.
Guard Sam Merrill added 19 points and knocked down five three-pointers, helping Cleveland stay competitive.
The Cavaliers shot an efficient 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range but struggled from the free-throw line.
- Mitchell led all scorers with 31 points.
- Cleveland made 19 three-pointers in the game.
- The team committed 15 turnovers overall.
Knicks Offensive Match Player Stats
New York balanced its scoring across several players while dominating the rebounding battle.
Anunoby produced one of the most complete performances of the night with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds to anchor the paint.
Brunson added 23 points and drew multiple fouls late, finishing 12-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Forward Mikal Bridges contributed 16 points and six assists while committing no turnovers in 33 minutes.
- The Knicks scored 31 points from the free-throw line.
- New York outrebounded Cleveland by 16 boards.
- Five Knicks players reached double figures.
Defensive Highlights
Defense and rebounding proved decisive for New York throughout the contest.
The Knicks collected 48 rebounds compared to Cleveland’s 32, including nine offensive boards that created second-chance opportunities.
Both teams recorded eight steals and four blocks, but the Knicks protected the ball slightly better.
Anunoby and Bridges both contributed key defensive plays with multiple steals and blocks.
- New York dominated the rebounding battle.
- Both teams recorded identical totals in steals and blocks.
- The Knicks committed one fewer turnover than Cleveland.
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Cavaliers | Knicks |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 47% | 43% |
| Three Point % | 41% | 35% |
| Free Throw % | 67% | 86% |
| Rebounds | 32 | 48 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 14 |
Top Individual Player Stats
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers | 31 | 2 | 5 |
| OG Anunoby | Knicks | 24 | 14 | 2 |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 23 | 4 | 5 |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | 22 | 8 | 3 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Knicks | 19 | 11 | 2 |
Shooting Performance Leaders
| Player | FG | 3PT | FT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | 12-25 | 2-9 | 5-5 |
| OG Anunoby | 9-17 | 4-9 | 2-4 |
| Jalen Brunson | 5-18 | 1-9 | 12-13 |
| Sam Merrill | 6-11 | 5-10 | 2-2 |
Key statistical takeaways:
- Mitchell led the game in scoring but lacked consistent support.
- Anunoby delivered a double-double with strong efficiency.
- The Knicks’ free-throw shooting and rebounding advantage proved decisive.