Knicks’ OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns urge NY to maintain 0-0 mentality amid win streak

May 24, 2026 - 06:45

The New York Knicks are exactly where they want to be, but they are playing like they have everything to lose. Following a dominant 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, New York stands just one win away from a sweep and a trip to the NBA Finals.

The Knicks extended their postseason winning streak to an incredible 10 games, but inside the locker room, the energy remains strictly locked in.

Instead of celebrating the 3-0 series stranglehold, Knicks forwards OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns are urging the team to wipe the slate clean before Monday night’s Game 4.

“Just come out with desperation like it’s still 0-0,” Anunoby said when asked about the team’s mindset moving forward.

Towns mirrored his frontcourt partner’s urgency, keeping his eyes on the ultimate prize. “We found a way to win tonight, but we got to have the same desperation like it’s 0-0,” Towns added.

"We found a way to win tonight, but we got to have the same desperation like it's 0-0."
Karl-Anthony Towns talks about the Knicks' mindset as they sit one win away from the NBA Finals: pic.twitter.com/5goxkPxuXD
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 24, 2026

That foot-on-the-gas mentality explains why New York looks so unstoppable right now. In Game 3, Tom Thibodeau’s squad absolutely carved up the Cavaliers’ defense, shooting a blistering 56% from the field. Jalen Brunson led the charge with a game-high 30 points and six assists, while Mikal Bridges and Anunoby absolutely tortured Cleveland on the wings, dropping 22 an`d 21 points, respectively.

Towns also anchor-pinned the interior, chipping in 14 points and pulling down seven rebounds to help the Knicks win the battle on the glass, 37-34. New York’s defense did the rest, suffocating Cleveland into 29% shooting from downtown and forcing 17 crucial turnovers.

No NBA team has ever blown a 3-0 lead in the playoffs, but the Knicks are completely ignoring history. By treating the upcoming matchup like a must-win Game 1, New York aims to close out Cleveland quickly and earn some much-needed rest before the final round.

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