New York Knicks Eliminate Donovan Mitchell and Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five, Move on to Semifinals

ParallelDesk 01:23:18 PM, 27 April 2023

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The New York Knicks have eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers from the playoffs after a dominant 106-95 victory in Game 5 on the road. The win secured the Knicks' spot in the semifinal round of the playoffs for just the second time in 23 years. The loss ended a disappointing playoff run for the fourth-seeded Cavs, who had the home-court advantage over the fifth-ranked Knicks. Fans were quick to troll the Cavaliers, with one fan tweeting "Donovan was built for Utah" in reference to their star player Donovan Mitchell. The Knicks entered the series with high hopes, having opened with a stunning Game 1 victory at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Despite a loss in the following game, the Knicks bounced back to win back-to-back games in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks' physical play, defense, and grit proved too much for the Cavaliers to handle, with Jalen Brunson leading the charge for the Knicks. The Knicks had pursued Mitchell in the offseason via trade, hoping to make him a cornerstone of their franchise. While Mitchell had averaged 31.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds against the Knicks in the regular season, his performance in the postseason was lackluster. Mitchell struggled against the Knicks' unforgiving defense, averaging just 23.2 points per game and shooting only 43.3% from the field. The Cavaliers will now look to the future with confidence and excitement, with young players like Darius Garland and Evan Mobley leading the charge. While their playoff run ended in disappointment, the Cavaliers are set to become a formidable team in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks will now face the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers-Atlanta Hawks series in the semifinals, with fans eagerly anticipating a potential matchup between former teammates Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler in the second round.