NBA Playoffs live updates and score

The Knicks made the playoffs in every season of the 1990s and twice more to start the new millennium, reaching the NBA Finals twice in that span behind strong defensive teams that perfectly represented New York’s tenacity and lunch-pail in work.

Decades of hopelessness and mostly losing later, those qualities were again the backbone of the Knicks’ 99-79 blowout victory Friday night in Game 3 over the Cavaliers to take a 2-1 lead into their first-round playoff series going into Sunday’s fourth game.

The Knicks began four straight days of alternating home playoff games with the Rangers with a throwback defensive gem in a loud and boisterous Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Brunson’s streak of at least 20 points and five assists is the first time a Knicks player has posted those numbers in the postseason since Patrick Ewing in 1990, according to ESPN.

The Knicks, now up 2-1 against the Cavaliers, are looking to secure their second postseason series victory since Ewing left following the 1999-2000 season.

A weekend full of playoff games at the Garden — for the Knicks and the Rangers — started with a convincing victory for the Knicks.

They defeated the Cavaliers, 99-79, and it was a win that combined a passable offensive performance with a stellar defensive one. Cleveland managed just 32 points in the first half.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 21 points, RJ Barrett added 19 and Josh Hart overcame early foul trouble to contribute 13 points off the bench.

Shortly after Garden fans began chanting for Derrick Rose, the Knicks reserve guard went to the scorer’s table and checked in for Immanuel Quickley.

He’s played in just one game since the start of January, but the former All-Star has played an important role mentoring the Knicks’ younger guards. Rose attempted a floater and missed on his first offensive possession.

The Knicks made it look simple against a Cavaliers team that struggled to shoot the ball. In the fourth quarter, even Obi Toppin ignited the Garden with a dunk and a 3-pointer.

And with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter, Knicks fans started chanting for Derrick Rose.

Darius Garland contributed soon after returning to the game.

He hit a 3-pointer from the corner, in front of the Knicks bench, with 9:02 left, but Obi Toppin responded with a 3 at the other end to put the Knicks up 18.

Cleveland’s Darius Garland limped off the court in the fourth quarter and sat by the bench, apparently in pain.

He missed the layup amid a 2-for-14 shooting performance from the field. Garland later removed his left shoe and sat on the end of the Cleveland bench before later putting that shoe back on, according to ESPN.

The first quarter can be labeled as a poor start. Both in the first half, if the Cavaliers find a way to reverse their terrible shooting percentage in the last 24 minutes.

But entering the fourth quarter, they trailed, 72-55. They shot 37.3 percent from the field. They went 6-for-27 from beyond the 3-point arc. Only two players top 10 points, and one of those — Caris LeVert — is at 11.

RJ Barrett led the Knicks with 19 points, while Jalen Brunson added 16.

Caris LeVert has not been in the Cavaliers’ starting lineup for the first two games.

But that changed Saturday, and he made four shots — for 11 points — to help Cleveland cut its deficit to nine points with 2:47 left in the third quarter.

The Knicks listed guard Quentin Grimes as questionable to return with a dislocated right shoulder, and Josh Hart, on his three fouls, started the second half for the Knicks.

The Knicks led, 56-42, with 7:11 left in the third quarter, and Cleveland called a timeout after Julius Randle made a 3-pointer. He was up to 10 points for the Knicks, who had three players — Randle, RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson — in double figures.

Behind 14 points from RJ Barrett and eight from Jalen Brunson, the Knicks closed the first half on a 13-5 run and led the Cavaliers, 45-32, after 24 minutes.

Both teams struggled to connect on shots from beyond the arc, combining for a 6-for-38 clip, and the Knicks forced 12 Cleveland turnovers and got nine steals. The Cavaliers shot just 31.0 percent from the field.

The status of starting guard Quentin Grimes, who went into the locker room holding his shoulder, looms large for both the second half and the rest of the series, though.

Knicks guard Quentin Grimes headed to the locker room holding his shoulder, according to The Post’s Zach Braziller.

RJ Barrett checked in for Grimes with 2:13 left in the second quarter.