FINAL - NYK 117, CLE 86 ... New York jumped on the Cavs early, running out to a double-digit lead early in the first quarter and not looking back, handing the Wine and Gold their third straight loss, 117-86, on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Kyrie Irving led the Cavs with 24 points and Dion Waiters came off the bench to add 21.
7:11, 4Q - NYK 102, CLE 76 ... Cavs had cut it to 15, but Knicks starting to pull away. Tim Hardaway Jr. now w/22 pts off the bench; Waiters, 13 off the bench for CLE; Deng, 13 pts; Kyrie leads Cavs with 24.
End 3Q - NYK 81, CLE 65 ... Kyrie Irving heated up in the 3Q and now has 21 to lead CLE, but Cavs still need a big 4Q push; Irving, 9-21 FG, 6 reb, 3 asst; Luol Deng, 13 pts, only other Cav in double-figures; Cavs shooting 40 pct FG; NYK, 50 pct; Carmelo leads all w/29 pts.
6:20, 3Q - NYK 72, CLE 46 ... Two Cavs in double-figures -- Kyrie, 13 pts, Deng, 11; Miles, 2-3 3 pt, 6 pts; Melo leads everyone w/28 pts.
Watch Highlights: First Half
End 1H - NYK 60, CLE 36 ... Kyrie, only Cavalier in double-figures with 10 pts, 5-12 FG; Deng, 9 pts, 8 reb; Cavs shooting 35 pct FG, already w/10 TO; Knicks shooting 51 pct FG, outrunning Cavs on FB, 10-2; Carmelo w/22 pts to lead everyone
6:29, 2Q - NYK 54, CLE 29 ... Knicks having their way with Cavs in 1H, shooting 62 pct FG, 60 pct 3pt FG; Deng leads CLE w/9 pts; Kyrie, 4-8 FG, 8 pts.
End 1Q - NYK 38, CLE 21 ... Knicks shoot 60 pct FG in 1Q, Cavs 44 pct; Melo, 18 pts, JR Smith, 4-5 FG, 11 pts; Deng leads CLE w/9 pts, 5 reb.
5:53, 1Q - NYK 26, CLE 9 ... Carmelo Anthony's tear continues, he's already got a dozen tonight, 4-5 FG, 2-2 3pt; Deng, 4 pts, 3 reb.
Pregame - Cavs playing second of four contests with the Knicks this season, after topping New York, 109-94, in their first meeting at The Q. Anderson Varejao worked out this morning at shootaround with the knee brace, but doesn't look like he'll go tonight in NYC. Zeller will get second straight start; Shumpert (shoulder) out for the Knicks.
Cavs come in as the league's top offensive rebounding team in the month of January; Dion Waiters (named to the Rising Stars Challenge on Wednesday) comes in as the East's leading bench scorer at 14.7 ppg; Tristan comes in 2nd in the Eastern Conference in double-doubles with 22.
Starters for tonight: G Irving, G Miles, F Deng, F Thompson, C Zeller