Knicks carry four-game winning streak into Cavaliers matchup

The Knicks have rebounded from an 0-3 start, winning four straight and six of seven, including a 117-85 rout of Milwaukee that lifted them to 6-4. Their renewed strength has come largely from defense: they entered Wednesday fifth in the NBA in defensive rating and had held opponents below 100 points in five of their previous seven games. Coach Mike Brown has credited the team’s physical, disciplined approach, with Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride and Landry Shamet helping tighten perimeter defense; Josh Hart also returned from a brief absence. New York carried that momentum into a home matchup with Cleveland after beating the Cavaliers 109-97 on Saturday, while Cleveland had lost four of its first five games in November. The matchup recalled last season’s Eastern Conference finals, when the Knicks swept Cleveland in four games.