CLEVELAND, Ohio

The New York Knicks continued their strong Eastern Conference Finals run Friday night, taking an early lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 as they look to move one step closer toward the NBA Finals.

After winning the first two games of the series in New York, the Knicks entered Cleveland with momentum and confidence. New York started aggressively once again, building an early advantage behind strong offensive ball movement and fast-paced transition play.

The Cavaliers, now playing in front of their home crowd, attempted to respond defensively while searching for consistency on offense against a disciplined Knicks lineup that has controlled much of the series so far.

New York currently leads the Eastern Conference Finals 2-0 after victories in Games 1 and 2. The Knicks defeated Cleveland 115-104 in the series opener before securing another convincing 109-93 win in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden.

The pressure is now on Cleveland, with the Cavaliers needing a victory at home to avoid falling into a dangerous 3-0 series deficit — a situation very few NBA teams have ever recovered from in playoff history.

Fans inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse created a playoff atmosphere as both teams battled in what could become a defining game of the series.

Eastern Conference Finals Series

• Game 1: Knicks 115-104 Cavaliers
• Game 2: Knicks 109-93 Cavaliers
• Game 3: Live in Cleveland