New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Final Score & Over/Under Result — Feb 24, 2026

Cleveland's defensive grip tightened in the third quarter, holding New York to just 11 points as the Cavaliers extended their home-court advantage into a 109-94 victory. The combined output of 203 fell well short of the 231.5 market total, landing 28.5 points under—a result DAGGER correctly identified pregame by leaning under.

The first half set a frenetic pace, with 114 combined points through two quarters, including a blistering 61-point opening frame. New York kept pace early, trailing 35-26 after Q1, but Cleveland's defense clamped down as the game wore on. The second half proved decisive: combined scoring dropped to 89 points, with Q3 becoming a defensive showcase at just 34 combined. That quarter—New York managing only 11 points while Cleveland added 23—effectively decided the contest.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points and 4 assists, while James Harden contributed 20 points and 4 assists; Jarrett Allen anchored the boards with 10 rebounds to go with 19 points. For New York, Jalen Brunson scored 20 points with 4 assists, and Mikal Bridges chipped in 18 points. The Knicks' recent form (116.5 points per game) proved insufficient against a Cleveland team averaging 122.8 in its last 10 contests. Head-to-head meetings this season had favored higher-scoring affairs—250 and 230 combined in prior matchups—making this defensive grind a notable departure from the script.