Canada's RJ Barrett shines as Knicks push Cavaliers to brink of elimination

Jalen Brunson scored 29 points, RJ Barrett had 26 and the New York Knicks took a 3-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first-round series with a 102-93 victory on Sunday.

New York forced Cleveland all-star Donovan Mitchell into one of the worst games of his post-season career, finishing with just 11 points on five-for-18 shooting. Darius Garland had 23 points and 10 assists for the visiting Cavs, bouncing back nicely after going four for 21 in the Knicks' Game 3 romp. Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert each scored 14 points.

Barrett, a 22-year-old from from Mississauga, Ont., was only six for 25 in the two games in Cleveland but has been outstanding back at home, where fans chanted his name in the second half. He had five straight points to break the Knicks free from a 75-all tie, then added another basket before Hart scored to push it to 90-81 midway during a stretch when Cleveland could only manage two baskets in more than four minutes.

RJ