Kenny Atkinson gives Knicks credit for ‘higher physicality’ in Game 3

The New York Knicks just keep bullying the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tom Thibodeau’s squad brought their trademark grit to Ohio on Saturday night, securing a 121-108 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With the win, New York extends its playoff winning streak to 10 games and pushes Cleveland to the absolute brink of elimination with a 3-0 series lead.

From the opening tip, the Knicks set a physical tone that the Cavaliers simply could not match. New York jumped out to a 37-27 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, frustrating Cleveland with a grueling defensive effort.

After the game, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson credited New York for dictating the tempo and forcing his team out of its comfort zone.

“Their physicality was much higher than ours…credit to them,” Atkinson said. “They were into the ball, very handsy, the whole grab-and-hold thing, which is part of it…we struggled to play through that physicality tonight.”

"Their physicality was much higher than ours…credit to them. They were into the ball, very handsy, the whole grab-and-hold thing, which is part of it…we struggled to play through that physicality tonight."

– Kenny Atkinson on the Knicks pic.twitter.com/Z1d1ZUHZ1n

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 24, 2026

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