The New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, routing the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night. Few Cleveland fans remained as the clock wound down.

Karl-Anthony Towns posted 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who extended their franchise playoff-record winning streak to 11 games – matching the third-longest run in a single postseason in league history. New York's long-suffering fans took over Cleveland's arena.

“Growing up in the (New York) area, I feel like the word hope has been gone for a long while, so to restore that is special,” Towns said. “There is nowhere better in the world than when (Madison Square) Garden has hope.”

OG Anunoby added 17 points, Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench on 4-for-4 3-point shooting. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges finished with 15 points apiece, and Josh Hart contributed six points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Brunson was named series MVP, averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists.

Donovan Mitchell logged 31 points and Evan Mobley posted 15 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland. James Harden had 12 points and five turnovers while missing all six 3-point attempts. “Sometimes you’ve got to ultimately give the other team credit,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They played great basketball and they’re on a heater.”

The 37-point defeat was the Cavaliers' largest ever in a playoff home game. New York dominated rebounding 60-33. The Knicks will face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

Source: www.aljazeera.com