Knicks at Cavaliers, Game 5: Halftime Thoughts From Cleveland

Granted a chance to cancel the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks took full advantage over the first 24 minutes.

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The countdown has officially begun for the New York Knicks.

With four New Yorkers in the double-figures, including a combined 30 for Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett (11-of-18 shooting), the team is 24 minutes away from its first postseason advancement since 2013, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers 61-49 at halftime of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. 

What can we gather from the first half of action and who has stood out?

24 More Like That

From a Knicks perspective, they couldn't have gotten off to a better start. The second quarter saw them consistently hold a double-figure lead, silencing a clamorous, if not desperate Cleveland crowd. Their hosts' desperation was on full display as the 10-plus-point lead proved sustainable: while Isaac Okoro and Cedi Osman have each earned multiple triples off the bench to give them some semblance of a chance, big guns Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are a combined 1-of-8 from deep.

Quick Pick

Even though he has made an impact in terms of offensive pace and plus/minus (leading the Knicks in the latter category), Immanuel Quickley struggled in the more popular, conventional areas of the box score. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate kept got the second off to a roaring start, getting the Knicks' second quarter off to a torrid start with a triple, an assist, and a rebound, capping the first 24 off with 11 points. If Quickley gets consistently rolling, this playoff run could truly enter the next level.

Randle Handles ... A View From the Toppin

If Randle was subject to a medically-induced absence, he at least helped build the Knicks' foundational lead before he went. While he started 1-of-6 from the field, he was distributing the ball to the tune of a game-best six assists. Working with the Barrett method of setting aside the three-ball for attacks to the rim, Randle also hit three of his final shots before re-injuring the ankle that kept him out of the final five games of the regular season. The Knicks will not turn to Obi Toppin, who played all but 41 seconds of Sunday's fateful fourth quarter at MSG, to take over and seal the deal, as Randle has been labeled doubtful to return.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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