Early in the first quarter, Jalen Brunson suffered a left knee injury. Although he stayed in the game briefly before having to be helped off to the locker room.
The Cavs have kept most of the same players from last season on their roster, yet this team looks very different. Garland has emerged as an integral piece in both offense and defense, providing much-needed physicality on both fronts.
Here, we will discuss the high lights or top players list of Cleveland Cavaliers Vs New York Knicks.
As of January 30, 2025, here are the rosters for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks:
Cleveland Cavaliers
| No. | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Darius Garland | Guard |
| 45 | Donovan Mitchell | Guard |
| 4 | Evan Mobley | Forward |
| 31 | Jarrett Allen | Center |
| 35 | Isaac Okoro | Forward |
| 8 | Lamar Stevens | Forward |
| 32 | Dean Wade | Forward |
| 00 | Kevin Porter Jr. | Guard |
| 6 | Luke Travers | Guard/Forward |
| 33 | JT Thor | Forward |
| 9 | Ricky Rubio | Guard |
| 13 | Tristan Thompson | Center |
| 1 | Darius Brown II | Guard |
| 20 | Jaylon Tyson | Guard |
New York Knicks
| No. | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | Jacob Toppin | Forward |
| 1 | Cameron Payne | Guard |
| 2 | Miles McBride | Guard |
| 3 | Josh Hart | Guard/Forward |
| 4 | Pacome Dadiet | Guard |
| 5 | Precious Achiuwa | Forward |
| 8 | OG Anunoby | Forward |
| 9 | Kevin McCullar Jr. | Guard |
| 11 | Jalen Brunson | Guard |
| 13 | Tyler Kolek | Guard |
| 20 | Jericho Sims | Center |
| 23 | Mitchell Robinson | Center |
| 25 | Mikal Bridges | Guard/Forward |
| 32 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Center/Forward |
| 55 | Ariel Hukporti | Center |
These rosters reflect the teams’ lineups as of the specified date.
Darius Garland
As Darius Garland was growing up in Gary, Indiana with his father Winston as his mentor and coach, they would go play basketball every night after school together for around 30 minutes or so on a local court. Both he and Winston spent 30 minutes or so honing their skills before eventually playing college ball at Brentwood Academy and winning four state championships over his time there. Following an outstanding collegiate career he was selected fifth overall by Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019 NBA Draft.
Garland has quickly made his mark since joining the Cavaliers, playing an essential part in their recent success. He’s scored at least 20 points in each of his last seven games while averaging 22.4 points, 8 assists, and 2.5 three-pointers made. As an ideal playmaker who creates opportunities for teammates while scoring himself he thrives alongside Donovan Mitchell as part of an unstoppable backcourt duo.
On Thursday, Garland played an instrumental part in leading the Cavaliers past the Knicks with 20 points and nine assists – the first time as a starter that this feat had ever been accomplished by him. Garland was also strong defensively and provided valuable contributions on both ends of the court.
Whilst the win for the Cavaliers was certainly encouraging, losing was devastating for New York. Starting point guard Jalen Brunson suffered a knee injury early in the first quarter after taking an impactful hit from Giannis Niang during an attempt at scoring and collapsed to the court in obvious pain before having difficulty walking off on his own and needed assistance off. Although his knee tests came back negative, his status remains unclear at this time.
The Cavaliers will have a busy schedule over the coming weeks, playing Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night before travelling to Detroit and Washington. Staying healthy will be key if they wish to make a run in the playoffs.
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Jr. is an American professional basketball player currently competing with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As his eldest child and teammate of NBA superstar LeBron James, they become one of the first active father-son duos within their sport – likely following in his father’s footsteps with Los Angeles Lakers as they take over leadership of franchise in his father’s absence. The younger James appears set to succeed him.
2023 draft prospect Brandon Rush was a consensus four-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American during high school basketball. Following one season playing college ball for USC Trojans before being selected by Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of 2024 NBA draft.
He has settled well into the NBA and is blossoming into an all-around two-way player, boasting an athletic frame to absorb contact, being an efficient rebounder and willing passer, shooting long range shots. Additionally, he is an engaged defender who makes good reads without forcing shots.
After losing Jalen Brunson to injury early, the Knicks made a comeback and outlasted Cleveland Cavaliers 107-98 with Josh Hart posting a triple-double and Donte DiVincenzo providing late momentum boost.
Brunson, a starting player, was injured on his opening possession after colliding with another teammate’s leg, appearing to hit his left knee against them and remain seated until it was timeout to exit the game. Coach Tom Thibodeau did not provide much of an update regarding Brunson’s condition.
Even with their loss, the Knicks remain in control of their playoff destiny. They have won six out of their last seven games to move up into joint sixth-seed status for the Eastern Conference with Boston. On Wednesday they begin a four-game road trip in Miami.
The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have met 227 times during the regular season, with the Knicks holding an edge 121-106 in head-to-head meetings. Both teams met three times during playoff play – each winning once. This page contains all head-to-head records between them.
Jarrett Allen
After suffering an emotionally draining loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1, the Cleveland Cavaliers are eager to avoid being swept. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will prove an immense test, as one of the league’s premier defensive teams also boasts three 40+% 3-point shooters like Karl Anthony-Towns, Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride who will provide formidable competition.
The Cavaliers possess a formidable lineup, but in order to score they must play well defensively. On average they average just 11 assists per game and point guard Collin Sexton has struggled may be responsible. He needs to improve or the team will face serious difficulties.
But the Cavaliers boast an able supporting cast that can assist him. Alongside Sexton and Allen, their roster boasts several other talented players such as Jeff Green who averages 14.5 points per game this season.
In their initial game against the Knicks, the Cavaliers struggled to contain their fast-paced offense; however, this should improve during this contest. To succeed in slowing down play and forcing Knicks players into taking more contested shots and become more aggressive defensively.
Even in spite of their disappointing loss, the Cavaliers have shown signs of improvement over recent games. Their defense has improved and their bench is starting to gel more. Yet these positive steps remain far off before competing with top teams in the NBA.
This game will be an immense test for the Cavaliers, who aim to avoid a sweep and win their inaugural road game of the season. LeBron James should return from injury and continue his strong performance throughout this campaign.
The Cavaliers will need to overcome an array of injuries before this game, but their depth should help make up for them. Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert have both been ruled out, while Ty Jerome is out with an ankle injury.
Julius Randle
The Knicks acquired Randle from Minnesota for Keita Bates-Diop, Donte DiVincenzo and an exclusive 2023 first round pick (MIN’s own). Karl-Anthony Towns and an unfavorable 2025 second round selection were included as part of this deal, hoping he can help them return to playoff contention this season. This move proved significant for New York despite initial hesitation; though Towns has become key component in their playoff push this year.
Pelicans’ frontcourt depth isn’t great, giving Randle plenty of opportunities to play. He should compete with Nikola Mirotic for minutes at the four, though in certain lineups he may slide down to the wing as well. No matter his role or workload, Randle is expected to produce at a level that makes him a valuable addition for all formats.
Randle’s ability to play multiple positions and shoot the ball efficiently should yield significant fantasy value in the short term, especially in deeper leagues. His scoring efficiency stands out as an asset while his shot-making acumen could put him on track to earn All-NBA honors this season.
Though Jalen Brunson left early, the Knicks rallied back to beat the Cavaliers 107-98. Josh Hart recorded a triple-double while Donte DiVincenzo contributed 28 points in an impressive win at Cleveland.
The Knicks must improve on their three-point shooting, but will remain one of the toughest teams to beat in New York due to an excellent defense. Now with a talented center at center, New York could challenge for a top four spot in Eastern Conference play.
Randle may never reach All-Star status, but he remains an essential contributor for the Knicks this season. His steady scoring and rebounding as well as secondary skills make him a worthy investment option in most fantasy leagues; however, some other players on this list might offer greater upside.