Can the Villanova Knicks Solve New York’s Playoff Woes?

The Villanova Knicks moved within one win of the NBA Finals on Saturday, May 23, winning their tenth game in a row with a 121-108 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 30 points and six assists; Mikal Bridges continued to sink shots at an impressive rate, scoring 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting and adding six rebounds, three steals and a block.

Josh Hart, the hero of Game 2, made steady contributions on both ends of the court with 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Unlike the first two games of the series, Cleveland never held a lead. The Knicks outscored them 37-27 in the first quarter; Bridges, Brunson  and Hart combined for 14 points and five assists during that early push.

Despite their status as one of the oldest NBA franchises, the Knicks are historic underachievers: they last made the Finals in 1999 and have just four conference titles in their 80-year history.

That could change with the help of the three Villanova Wildcats, who all won at least one NCAA title during their time on the Main Line; the Villanova Knicks burst onto the scene with Brunson, Hart and Donte DiVincenzo in 2024. DiVincenzo left that offseason, but New York went on to augment their roster with Bridges in a blockbuster trade. They’ve made the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the two seasons since then and are now close to taking the next step.