The New York Knicks won their opening game of the NBA season, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden with Giants rookie Cam Skattebo watching on
09:26 ET, 23 Oct 2025
Cam Skattebo has proved to be a sensation for the 2-5 Giants
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Cam Skattebo has proved to be a sensation for the 2-5 Giants(Image: Getty Images)
New York Knicks fans went wild for Cam Skattebo as the New York Giants rookie was met with rousing applause at Madison Square Garden.
On Wednesday night, the Knicks — who have the fourth-best odds to win the championship — began their 2025-26 NBA season with a 119-114 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs battled hard and briefly took a two-point lead in the fourth quarter, only for the Knicks to rattle off a 14-0 run to cement the game.
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Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 31 points, but the Knicks rallied behind 24 points and 23 points from OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson to move to 1-0. Madison Square Garden was bouncing, and among the celebrities out to watch was Skattebo.
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Selected in the fourth round out of Arizona State, Skattebo has proved to be a unique talent. The running back has tallied 398 rushing yards and six touchdowns, but it is the 23-year-old’s willingness to put his body on the line that has endeared him to New York fans.
When Skattebo was put on the screen at Madison Square Garden, the crowd exploded with applause and cheers. It shows how the rookie has captured the heart of the city due to his trademark head-down, aggressive running approach.
While most running backs seek to shield their head when carrying the ball, he consistently lowers his helmet to initiate contact. Skattebo truly attempts to power through opposing defenders, a tactic which he has utilised effectively.
New York sporting royalty was in attendance, as Yankees superstar Aaron Judge and his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, were seated next to Knicks icon Carmelo Anthony. But the loudest cheer of the night was for Skattebo, who has emerged as a Giants favorite in his rookie season.
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Judge, who hit 53 home runs and led MLB with 1.444 OPS this season, was not the only Yankee in attendance. New York pitchers Cam Schlittler and Devin Williams were also inside the Garden for the action.
On the court, opening night belonged to the Knicks. Last year, Cleveland swept the season series and finished 13 games ahead of the Knicks, but New York — in Mike Brown’s debut as head coach — controlled proceedings.
One of the key criticisms of Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks reign was his inability to utilize the full roster, as he trusted the starters and a select few players with game time. But Brown used 11 guys, going deep into the rotation in the opening game and lessening the load on Brunson.
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“I truly believe this team is a deep team,” Brown said. “We have guys that can play. I like to play a lot of guys. I don’t know if I can play 11 guys every night, but we’d like to play as many as we can. We want everybody ready in case their number is called at any time.”
The 1-0 Knicks are next in action when they welcome the 0-1 Boston Celtics to the Garden on Friday, Oct. 24.