Jalen Brunson, Knicks Eyed by NBA Fans as East Favorites After Win vs. Mitchell, Cavs

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks won their first battle of the 2025-26 NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brunson and Co. picked up a 119-111 win in a showcase of two preseason favorites to win the Eastern Conference.

Brunson turned in a 23-point night for a Knicks team without Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart.

New York's healthy stars stepped up with Robinson and Hart out. OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns both recorded double-doubles, while Mikal Bridges had 16 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

The Knicks and Cavs won't play again until Christmas Day, and the teams will look different then, but New York's performance left an early impression on how it can stack up with the Cavs.

New York faces another early-season test on Friday night against the Boston Celtics, while Cleveland is expected to bounce back versus the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.