November 10, 2026 at 5:06 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisKnicks Look to Repeat Brunson-Towns Formula Against Scuffling Cavaliers
New York's star duo and a fresh memory of a 12-point win give the Knicks the edge in the rematch.
This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.
The Cavaliers get a quick chance to answer their 109-97 loss to the Knicks on Nov. 7, but the problems that decided that game haven't gone away. Cleveland, last season's East runner-up, is 5-5 after losing three of its last four, and it now faces a team that handled it comfortably.
Jalen Brunson is the main reason. He scored 31 with 9 assists last time, and his 18-point second quarter turned a one-point deficit into a 10-point halftime lead. He has now scored 30-plus in two straight games, so he looks past his slow start. Karl-Anthony Towns adds a second problem. He has a double-double in all nine games this season, including 29 points and 13 rebounds against Cleveland.
The Cavaliers' offense runs through Donovan Mitchell, who scored 37 on 13-of-22 shooting but also committed five turnovers in the loss. His night wasn't enough, which means Cleveland needs more from everyone else. James Harden is the obvious place to look. He played about 34 minutes, shot 2-of-9 and finished with 7 points. Cleveland will also be without Jaylon Tyson and Nae'Qwan Tomlin, and Sam Merrill is questionable, so its options are limited.
New York's best opening for Cleveland is up front, where Drew Eubanks and N'Faly Dante are out and Josh Hart is questionable. That thin big-man depth could force some rotation changes. Still, Brunson's shot-making and Towns' steady production should be enough to hold off a Cleveland team that is short on help around Mitchell. I expect a closer game than the last one, with the Knicks pulling away late.