Big Apple bites Cavs

NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 on Wednesday night in their first game under coach Mike Brown.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who had a 17-point lead in the first half, fell behind after Donovan Mitchell led a comeback, then regained the lead for good with a 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell finished with 31 points, 21 in the third quarter, but the Cavaliers couldn’t pull out the win after starting last season with 15 straight en route to a 64-18 record, best in the Eastern Conference. Evan Mobley added 22 points and eight rebounds.

The Cavs and Knicks are expected to be two of the top contenders in the East, though neither is ready to look like it yet. The Knicks are without center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) and Josh Hart (lower back spasms).

The Cavs started the season with All-Star Darius Garland and swingman Max Strus recovering from offseason foot surgeries and on Wednesday were also without forward De’Andre Hunter, who averaged a league-high 16.9 points off the bench last season, because of a bruised right knee.

Brown took over when the Knicks surprisingly decided to fire Tom Thibodeau despite reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.

Mikal Bridges hit all four shots and scored 10 points in the first quarter, helping New York lead 33-23. A 10-0 run late in the first half gave the Knicks their biggest lead at 63-46 before Mitchell, who had been quiet, had a couple free throws and a basket to give himself some momentum for his big third.

A big deal in Toronto

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto’s Maple Leafs and Raptors are changing the times of their games this weekend and next week to avoid overlap with the Blue Jays’ World Series games.

“Toronto sports fans are undeniably some of the most passionate fans in the world, and we are proud to have the city’s teams come together and give these fans an opportunity to experience a significant moment in our city’s and nation’s history,” said Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Maple Leafs and Raptors.

Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto will host Games 1 and 2 of the World Series on Friday and Saturday. Each game in the best-of-seven series is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT.

The Raptors’ home opener against Milwaukee on Friday was moved from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the Maple Leafs’ game against Buffalo on Saturday was moved from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Leafs have also adjusted the start time of Tuesday’s game against Calgary to 6 p.m. Likewise, the Raptors will host Houston at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Games 3-5 of the World Series are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Each of these game time changes are quite complicated and represent the co-operation of many stakeholders, including the respective leagues, coaches and players of the Leafs, Raptors and opposing teams and broadcasters,” Pelley said. “We are grateful to them all for their assistance as we work to make this a very special moment for Toronto fans as we come together to support the Blue Jays.”

The Maple Leafs and Raptors will also show the World Series games on the Scotiabank Arena videoboard following their games.