Cavaliers on verge of elimination going down 3-0 after 121-108 loss to Knicks
BY TIM SHIRER
CAVS BEAT WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - Heading into game three of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ backs were as close to being against the wall without actually being against the wall. The New York Knicks held a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series after winning the first two in New York.
The Cavs could not put four good quarters together in the first two games. They blew a 22-point lead in game one before losing in overtime 115-104. Then in game two held a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter but were outplayed the final three quarters losing 109-93.
Tonight, it was the same story as the first two games of the series as the Knicks outplayed the Cavs in every phase of the game winning 121-108 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The Knicks jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, both baskets by Karl Anthony Towns. Donovan Mitchell continued his underwhelming free throw shooting by missing his first attempt of the game. With just 1:54 gone in the first quarter the Knicks led 9-1 and Kenny Atkinson had no choice but to take an early timeout. With 8:33 left, optically challenged Tony Brothers called Mitchell for a foul when he never touched Mikal Bridges who slipped and fell to the floor. It was Mitchell’s first foul. With 8:12 remaining Evan Mobley dunked cutting the New York lead to 10-9. With 5:57 left in the opening quarter, Sam Merrill was called for a personal foul and after Towns made both free throws the Cavs led 20-15. With 4:51 remaining in the opening quarter, the Cavs cut the lead to 22-19. At the four minute mark Mitchell had a terrible turnover, and the Knicks took advantage and led 26-19 and then Mobley turned the ball over, and Towns hit a three giving New York a 29-19 lead. Atkinson was forced to take another timeout as the game looked like it was slipping away early. The Rocket Arena crowd was not happy. Three turnovers to that point resulting in seven Knicks points. The Cavs were playing little to no defense, allowing the Knicks to score inside or outside, anything they wanted to do, they were doing. As the opening quarter came to a close the Knicks led 37-27. The Cavs were being embarrassed and bullied by the Knicks on their own floor and seemed to have no answer. Towns led all scorers with 11 first quarter points as he was wide open nearly every time he took a shot. Mitchell led the Cavs with seven points. The Knicks shot 72% (12 of 17) in the opening quarter while the Cavs shot 52% (12 of 23). The Cavs were also outrebounded by the Knicks 8-6.
With 7:31 left in the half and the Cavs trailing 43-36 Jaylon Tyson drove the lane scored and was fouled by Mitchell Robinson cutting the Knicks lead to 43-39. With 7:03 left James Harden then cut the New York lead to 43-41. Then with 6:29 left Harden drained a three and the Knicks lead was one. But the porous Cavs defense allowed a quick three by the Knicks and their lead was back to four. The much-maligned Harden tied the game 48-48 when he scored in the paint with 5:40 left in the second quarter. The NBA office’s narrative of giving the Knicks the foul calls was taking full effect with 3:45 left when Harden was called for an offensive foul when clearly the foul should have been on the Knicks Josh Hart. With 3:25 left in the second quarter, the Danny Ainge Crybaby Award for the game was still a tossup between Hart and Towns. With 2:58 left in the half and the Cavs down by one Mitchell committed another terrible turnover and the Knicks took advantage, scoring at the other end to lead 54-51. It was Mitchell’s third of the game and the Cavs’ eighth. Then with 1:39 left in the first half and the Cavs trailing by five points Mitchell was fouled and he missed both free throws, complete disastrous sequence by the “superstar.” The Knicks scored at the other end. Once again, the same thing that has transpired for most of the postseason for the Cavs a terrible end of a quarter. Turnovers, missed free throws resulted in the Cavs being outscored 8-3 in the final three minutes to trail 60-54 at halftime. Harden led all scorers with 14 first half points. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 13 first half points. The Cavs were a minus -13 with Mitchell on the floor. The Cavs shot a pathetic 55% (6 of 11) from the free throw line and 21% (4 of 19) from behind the three-point line. The Cavs did outrebound the Knicks in the opening half 18-16 led by Jarrett Allen and Harden who had four boards each. The Knicks had the advantage on fast break point 11-0. That says everything about which team is playing with intensity.
The second half began like most of the first half with terrible defense and a turnover by the Cavs. On another front with just over eight minutes left in the third Hart had taken the clear lead over Towns for the DACB award. Another horrible turnover by Mitchell with 7:32 left and the Knicks scored at the other, increasing their lead to 71-64. The turnover by Mitchell was his fourth of the game. The Cavs were a minus -14 with Mitchell on the floor to that point of the game. With 4:50 left, Mitchell attempting to be fancy missed an easy layup in the paint. The Knicks responded and took a 10 point lead 79-69 4:33 left in the third. The Knicks continued to add on, knowing the Cavs had no answer defensively. When Jalen Brunson scored with 3:40 left in the period the Knicks took their biggest lead of the game to that point 83-70. After a timeout at the 2:36 mark of the quarter, the only two Cavs starters who were on the floor were Mobley and Harden. Once again as the quarter closed the Cavs cut the lead to seven and with more matador defense allowed the Knicks to score with :00.1 left on the clock and take a 91-82 lead into the final 12 minutes. Brunson led all scorers with 21 points through three. Mitchell and Harden led the Cavs with 19 apiece. Mitchell also led the Cavs with a -18 when he was on the floor. He was also 1 of 4 from the free throw line through three quarters.
The final quarter started with more of the same as the Cavs nonexistent defense gave up five quick points and the Knicks lead was at 14 points with 10:19 left on the clock. With 9:47 left Merril drained a three and sparked the crowd. Then with 9:35 left Mitchell picked up his fourth personal foul. He was then fouled at the other end. Stunningly he made one of two free throws, and the Cavs cut the New York lead to 96-86 with 9:18 left on the clock. The defense continued to play as if they would catch a disease if they came with three feet of a Knicks shooter and with 7:58 remaining the Knicks lead was back at 14. With 6:06 remaining Brunson drained three and the New York lead was 16 points. Anunoby then hit a three and the Knicks lead was 17. With 3:37 left the Cavs cut the Knicks lead to 12 points. Unfortunately, it was too little too late and the Knicks finished off the Cavs 121-108.
The Cavs once again were outplayed in every phase of the game on offense and defense.
The Cavs will attempt to stay alive in game four on Monday night at 8 pm at Rocket Arena.
POSTED 05/23/2026 23:10
Lake County Sentinel
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Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Max Strus makes a three pointer basket in the Cavs 121-108 loss to the New York Knicks in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Photo by Tim Shirer
