THE NBA : Knicks Beat Cavaliers, One Point at a Time

New York out-Cavaliered the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday and holds a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five Eastern Conference playoff series because of it.

“The way that team plays, they’re going to make you play this type of game,” John Starks said after the Knicks won, 83-81, in a brutal game at Cleveland that featured 74 free throws.

The Knicks can wrap it up by winning Thursday at Gund Arena.

Cleveland’s Danny Ferry had a chance to win it at the end, but his open three-point shot caromed off the rim as the horn sounded.

The Knicks blew the defensive coverage on Ferry, who had made two three-point shots in the half.

“There was a lack of communication on our part on the last play, and it could have cost us dearly,” Coach Pat Riley said.

Every shot and pass was contested by the teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in defense in the NBA, in a game that crawled at the slow pace the Cavaliers have used all season.

Thirteen of the Knicks’ last 17 points came from the free throw line, and Cleveland went scoreless from the field for nearly eight minutes, making 10 of 12 free throws to keep up.