Deeper, tougher Knicks eliminate Cavaliers from NBA playoffs in first series victory since 2013

CLEVELAND — In the final minutes of the first half the only thing that seemed could derail the Knicks happened as Julius Randle went to the floor in pain, limping to the locker room with the Knicks up 10 and suddenly injecting life into a Cavaliers squad that seemed ready for a knockout.

With Randle out, it was only fitting that the Knicks did what they have done all season long. The “next man up” mantra preached by Tom Thibodeau was in effect. Obi Toppin stepped off the bench and provided a burst of energy and 12 quick points. Mitchell Robinson dominated the glass. And Jalen Brunson did what he had done all series — prove to be the most valuable player on the floor.

The Knicks were deeper, tougher and simply better than the Cavs and the 106-95 decision ended the series in five games and gave the Knicks their first playoff series victory in 10 years and just their second since 2000.

In the end, as Cavs fans streamed for the exits, booing the home team, the Knicks never stopped, still scrambling and hustling. Cleveland entered the series as the No. 4 seed, but the fifth-seeded Knicks dominated from start to finish, splitting the first two games in Cleveland and then after a pair of one-sided wins at Madison Square Garden finished it off on the road at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

When the clock finally ticked down to zero the Knicks shook hands and celebrated, Randle joining them on the floor to hug his teammates. The Knicks now will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, a throwback to better days for both franchises.

The Heat completed an unlikely upset of the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday and the Knicks will have the homecourt advantage, hosting Game 1 at Madison Square Garden Sunday.

“First, you got to give them a lot of credit,” Brunson said of Cleveland. “It’s a very tough team to play. They don’t quit. They keep fighting and never made anything easy. I just think that as a team, we pride ourselves on just trying to be physically and mentally tough, because a lot of things during the course of a basketball game aren’t going to go as planned.

“You’re going to have moments where things aren’t going your way, when you’re frustrated. But can you stay mentally and physically strong to keep moving forward? No matter what’s going on out there, look at each other, the five of us out there and we know we got a job to do. We got to stick together and stay mentally tough through anything, whether it’s in a hostile environment or whether it’s at home. Doesn’t matter where we are. We got to have that mental toughness.”

This series began as a referendum on the Cavaliers’ offseason acquisition of Donovan Mitchell, beating the Knicks in the bidding for him in a trade from Utah. And if anything, it proved, as good as Mitchell is, the Knicks’ decision to balk at the price and keep the depth of their roster in place was the correct choice.

RJ Barrett (21 points) and Robinson (18 rebounds) took center stage for much of the night as the Knicks sent Mitchell and the Cavs to their summer vacation.

For the Knicks it was a chance for vindication after being knocked out in the first round two years ago by Atlanta.

“I wouldn’t say vindication,” Barrett said. “I would say just being prepared, having been in this exact position, it helps. Especially with this game. From being on the other side a couple of years ago, I kind of knew we had to start out strong, make them call the first timeout. [Derrick] Rose told us that today. Fourth quarter being up double digits, that’s tough to overcome. We kept pushing, we never got satisfied.”

“I think the way this team plays, it resonates with all our fans,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “They play hard, they play smart and they play together. And I think if you do that in New York, it’s always recognized. So it’s good. There’s still a lot of work to be done. We have a lot of areas to improve upon. So we’re looking forward to the next challenge.”

Brunson, the player the Knicks did land in the offseason, proved to be the most valuable player in the series with 23 points and orchestrating the game from the point, but the Knicks got contributions up and down the roster. The Cavaliers’ two-headed monster of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in the paint? Dominated by Robinson. Quentin Grimes, the Knicks’ best perimeter defender, forced to miss the last two-and-a-half games? Josh Hart steps in and limits Mitchell to 5-for-18 shooting in Game 4 and 11-for-25 (3-for-11 from three) — while not coming off the court in the second half for a moment — playing 47 minutes on the night.

And fittingly, Hart and Robinson grabbed offensive rebounds with two minutes left. Hart had 12 rebounds and Robinson finished with a staggering 11 offensive rebounds.

The Knicks outrebounded the Cavaliers 62-35.

The Knicks seemed in control throughout the series and in this closeout game dominated almost from the opening tip. But with 1:17 to play in the first half and the Knicks up 10, Randle jumped to try to block a Caris LeVert shot in the lane and landed on LeVert’s foot, turning the same left ankle that sidelined him the final five games of the regular season and took him nearly three weeks to find his way back into action.

He remained down for a long time and when he was helped to his feet two members of the Knicks’ training staff attempted to help him off the court on their shoulders. Randle shoved them away and walked on his own with a severe limp back to the bench and then to the locker room.

By Steve Popper

steve.popper@newsday.com@StevePopper

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.