The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Knicks match player stats from their Christmas Day showdown at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, December 25, 2025, with tipoff at 2:30 PM ET, told the story of one of the most dramatic collapses in recent NBA history, as the New York Knicks came from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers 126-124.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 34 points and was the central figure in an extraordinary fourth-quarter turnaround that had Madison Square Garden at absolute fever pitch by the final buzzer.
Reserve Jordan Clarkson added 25 points off the bench to provide the firepower that made the comeback possible, with his three-point shooting proving particularly decisive during the defining stretch of the game.

Donovan Mitchell finished with 34 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for Cleveland, matching Brunson’s individual output but ultimately falling on the losing side in the most painful of circumstances.
The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Knicks match player stats in the third quarter alone almost told a different story entirely, with Mitchell slamming down a half-court lob from Darius Garland and later hitting a three-pointer to cap an 18-4 burst that gave Cleveland an 89-75 lead entering the fourth.
Darius Garland contributed 20 points and 10 assists for the Cavaliers, executing efficiently throughout until the wheels came off in a fourth quarter that will haunt Cleveland supporters for some time.
Evan Mobley added 14 points and nine rebounds in his return from a calf strain, showing no ill effects from his absence and giving the Cavaliers a formidable frontcourt presence against Karl-Anthony Towns.
Tyler Kolek sparked the decisive Knicks run off the bench, finishing with 16 points and nine assists while producing a crucial late block on Mitchell that was initially called a foul before being overturned on review.
Mitchell Robinson finished with 13 rebounds as the Knicks rode their bench brilliance, with the reserve unit collectively outperforming Cleveland’s starters in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
Brunson’s go-ahead three-pointer with 1:05 remaining capped a 13-2 Knicks run that turned a 12-point Cleveland lead into a one-point New York advantage, completing the most dramatic sequence in the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Knicks match player stats narrative this season.
| STAT | CLEVELAND CAVALIERS | NEW YORK KNICKS |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 124 | 126 |
| Result | Loss | Win |
| Largest Lead | +17 (Q4) | Comeback |
| Bench Points | ~30 | ~50 |
| Fourth Quarter | ~21 | ~40 |
| PLAYER | TEAM | PTS | REB | AST | KEY NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | CLE | 34 | 7 | 6 | 12-for-25, 2-for-9 3P |
| Darius Garland | CLE | 20 | 3 | 10 | Double-double, efficient |
| Evan Mobley | CLE | 14 | 9 | 2 | Return from calf strain |
| Jalen Brunson | NYK | 34 | 4 | 6 | Go-ahead 3 with 1:05 left |
| Jordan Clarkson | NYK | 25 | 3 | 2 | Clutch bench performance |
| Tyler Kolek | NYK | 16 | 3 | 9 | Key block, comeback catalyst |
| Mitchell Robinson | NYK | 4 | 13 | 0 | 13 boards, critical O-rebs |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | NYK | 19 | 11 | 3 | Double-double |
| QUARTER | CAVALIERS | KNICKS |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 38 | 23 |
| Q2 | 20 | 37 |
| Q3 | 31 | 26 |
| Q4 | 35 (est.) | 40 (est.) |
| FINAL | 124 | 126 |
The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Knicks match player stats will stand as a reminder that no lead is safe in the NBA, with New York’s bench depth and Brunson’s ice-cold composure combining to deny Cleveland a statement win in the season’s most high-profile regular season slot.
