The Erie BayHawks know the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers well.

The Cavs (13-20) were the main one of Erie’s two NBA affiliates in its first three D-League seasons before the Knicks (18-18) became its sole hybrid affiliate this season.

Tonight, the new (Knicks) beat the old (Cavs), 120-103, at Madison Square Garden. The outcome was a 34-point swing as Cleveland lead by as many as 17 points late in the second half before the Knicks came back to win by that same margin.

Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin finished with 19 points, 13 assists, five rebounds only one turnover and a bloody nose. in the first quarter, Cavaliers forward Omri Casspi chopped down over Lin’s nose in trying to swat the ball out of his hands.

Lin, the overnight sensation who played one game with the BayHawks before emerging into a star with the Knicks, shot 6-of-12 from the field.

Carmelo Anthony had a team-high 22 points to lead the Knicks. If Melo’s average can give them 25 or 26 a night with ball movement led by Lin, New York may have something here.

As for the Cavaliers, got to love Kyrie Irving. The rookie out of Duke had 22 points, seven assists, but did turn the ball over four times tonight.

However, blowing a 17-point is not good for the Cleveland.

Not good at all.