James Harden scored a season-high 32 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks 115-107 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, ending a five-game losing run against the reigning champions.

Harden hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 4:22 remaining to break a 101-101 tie, then helped Cleveland pull away down the stretch for a win that avenged last season's Eastern Conference finals sweep, when New York won all four games on the way to the franchise's first NBA title in 53 years.

Donovan Mitchell added 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Cavaliers, while Jarrett Allen recorded a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Tyrese Proctor scored a season-best 15 points off the bench and Meleek Thomas added 14, as Cleveland won for only the second time in six games this month.

Harden ends his slow start in style

The 37-year-old Harden, who signed a three-year, 97 million dollar contract extension in August, had scored more than 20 points only once in his first 11 games of the season. He more than doubled his recent scoring average in New York, shooting 4 of 4 in the second quarter, including three three-pointers, for 13 points as Cleveland took a 59-53 lead into half-time.

The performance also moved Harden level with Allen Iverson for the 11th-most 30-point games in NBA history, a fitting milestone for a vintage display at the Garden.

New York had trailed by 12 in the first quarter and led only twice all night, but the Knicks twice tied the game in the third quarter and then erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. A pair of OG Anunoby free throws levelled the scores for the final time at 101-101 with 5:09 left, before Harden's three-pointer swung the game back Cleveland's way.

Towns keeps double-double run going

Jalen Brunson answered Harden's shot with a basket of his own, but the Cavaliers then scored the next six points and never led by fewer than five over the final 93 seconds. Peyton Watson sealed the win by blocking a Miles McBride layup to start a fast break, with Allen converting a three-point play to make it 113-105 with 29.6 seconds remaining.

Brunson top-scored for New York with 27 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, his 11th double-double in as many games this season. That run ties Willis Reed's franchise record for consecutive double-doubles to start a season.

McBride scored 19 points off the bench for the Knicks, Anunoby added 14 and Landry Shamet collected 12, but the defeat ended New York's four-game winning run and left them at 6-5 after an 0-3 start to the season. Cleveland improved to 6-6.

The Cavaliers visit the Miami Heat on Friday night, while the Knicks travel to face the Indiana Pacers on the same night.