Knicks reach first NBA Finals since 1999, Astros toss combined no-hitter and Hurricanes take 2-1 lead

New York ends a 27-year Finals drought, Houston blanks the Rangers through a three-pitcher effort, and Carolina’s overtime edge puts Montreal on the ropes in the Eastern Conference Final.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The New York Knicks are going back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after closing out the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday with a 130-93 victory. The clincher completed an Eastern Conference Finals sweep, sending New York to its ninth Finals appearance in franchise history and bringing an end to a wait that has shaped every late-season Knicks storyline for decades.

The offense looked built for the moment. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 17 points and Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench, as six Knicks finished in double figures. Jalen Brunson was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, a capstone to a run in which the Knicks combined shot-making with an increasingly imposing defensive identity, reflected by their repeated late-game separation in the series. The NBA also announced that the Finals begin June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

In MLB, the Houston Astros produced the first combined no-hitter in the majors in nearly two years, blanking the Texas Rangers 9-0. The effort was spread across three pitchers, with Tatsuya Imai delivering six hitless innings before Steven Okert recorded a scoreless seventh, and Alimber Santa sealing the win in his Major League debut. The Astros’ no-hitter was the first in the majors since September 2024, and it marked the 18th no-hitter in Astros history, completing what MLB described as the end of a prolonged drought between no-hit performances.

The Astros’ victory did not rely on a single dominant frame. MLB reported that Imai overcame an uneven start to his Houston tenure, then found a groove that carried him through the middle innings, including ground-ball outs and double plays. Astros manager Joe Espada praised the staff’s grind, and the clubhouse celebration afterward underscored how rare a combined no-hitter is, particularly against a lineup capable of turning mistakes into damage.

In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes took control of their Eastern Conference Final matchup with the Montreal Canadiens by winning Game 3 in overtime, 3-2. Andrei Svechnikov scored at 14:06 of overtime to give Carolina the series edge at 2-1, following another 3-2 overtime result in Game 2. reported that Svechnikov found the net on a rush play set up by Seth Jarvis, while Montreal’s late goals had set up a tense finish.

Carolina’s postseason trend has been a stubbornness in close games, and the Canes now carry an overtime record of 5-0 in the playoffs. Montreal, meanwhile, has already shown it can fight its way back late enough to threaten. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre, with the Canadiens needing a response after falling just short again.

Why It Matters

New York’s Finals return resets the Knicks’ legacy storyline, and the timing gives the franchise a renewed benchmark for how quickly it can contend with the right postseason execution.
Houston’s combined no-hitter highlights how the Astros’ pitching staff can coordinate a shutout effort even when it requires multiple arms to finish the job.
Carolina’s overtime success changes the pressure profile of the series, because Montreal has already proved it can extend games but still cannot land the final blow consistently.
Across leagues, Monday and Tuesday’s results reinforced a shared playoff theme, late-game organization, and the ability to close when scoring chances thin out.

Sources

Key Facts

The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 130-93 to earn their first NBA Finals berth since 1999 and complete an Eastern Conference Finals sweep.
Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP for New York’s postseason run.
The NBA Finals begin June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Astros threw a combined no-hitter against the Rangers in a 9-0 win, with Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert, and Alimber Santa combining to prevent a hit.
In the NHL Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes beat the Canadiens 3-2 in overtime on Andrei Svechnikov’s goal at 14:06 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4 between Carolina and Montreal is set for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre.