Cavaliers eliminated in humiliating fashion 130-93
BY TIM SHIRER
CAVS BEAT WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - Memorial Day evening at Rocket Arena the Cleveland Cavaliers were facing elimination in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals as they were trailing the New York Knicks 3-0 in the best of seven series.
The team faced game seven elimination in their first two series of the postseason as they took out the Toronto Raptors in game seven at Rocket Arena 114-102 on May 3 in the opening round. They then eliminated the Detroit Pistons in game seven of the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 17 in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena by blowing them out 125-94.
Things had not been the same for the Cavs in the first three games of the ECF as the Knicks put together a 22 point comeback in game one and clearly and easily outplayed the Cavs in game two in New York and then game three Saturday night in Cleveland. Monday night was no different as the Cavs looked like they had already made their vacation plans and were blown out by the Knicks 130
After one of the most exciting and popular players in Cavaliers history Matthew Dellavedova pulled the sword prior to pregame introductions the Cavs came out hot, scoring the first five points taking a 5-0 lead. The Knicks quickly killed the momentum and pulled to within 8-7 when Mikal Bridges scored in the paint with 9:17 left on the clock. With 8:30 left after a Donovan Mitchell foul Bridges hit both free throws and they gave the Knicks an 11-10 lead. The Cavs regained the lead with 7:51 left when Evan Mobley hit a three. But the same thing that has been the case all season the Cavs defense did not get back and Karl-Anthony Towns hit a three and gave the lead back to the Knicks 14-13. After the Cavs took a 17-14 lead, Towns scored again in the paint to pull the Knicks to within one point with 6:00 remaining in the opening quarter. Cavs coach Lenny Atkinson took time out. With 4:41 left the Cavs defense was already collapsing looking like a middle school team against the Duke Blue Devils and the Knicks took a 23-17 lead. With 3:28 left in the opening quarter James Harden hit a three and cut the Knicks lead to 25-22. Nothing had changed in the first quarter than the previous three games, every time the Cavs scored, they allowed the Knicks to score on the other end. The Cavs players looked as though they were playing with 20 point lead and not a 10 point deficit with 1:18 left in the first quarter. During the time out at least, the entertainment was good as the Cavs dance team the “Whine & Goldies” danced to a couple of country hits. The completely embarrassing first quarter came to an end with the Knicks leading 38-26. Mitchell led all scorers with 12 points at the end of one quarter. While Towns led the Knicks with eight. The Cavs were outhustled on boards 15-10. Cleveland also shot a disgusting 38% (9 of 24) from the field.
The second quarter was more of the same, maybe worse if that was possible as the Knicks scored the first eight points of the second quarter to take a 20 point lead with just 1:33 off the second quarter clock. The Knicks continued to pour it on, leading by 24 points after the Cavs turned the ball over for the fifth time in the game. With 6:20 remaining in the second quarter the outcome was apparent. The New York Knicks and their terrible history were going to the finals for the first time this century as the Cavs had no answer offensively or defensively and the Knick led 58-32. The Cavs had now resorted to the Knicks style of play, bully ball, fouling hard on every foul. The Knicks fans in attendance didn’t like that their players were being treated like they treated others and they soundly booed the Cavs. The Cavs cut the lead to a miniscule 20 point deficit with 2:53 remaining when Harden made 1 of 2 free throws. With 1:53 left Harden drew another foul and this time made both free throws and the Knicks lead was trimmed to 17 points at 64-47. Once again, the Cavs disappeared late in a quarter and the Knicks responded, building the lead back up to 21 with 1:08 left. With :33.1 left Mobley turned the ball over, the Cavs ninth of the first half. Finally, when time expired in the first half the Cavs trailed 68-49. Mitchell led all scorers with 20 points in the first half. Landry Shamet paced the Knicks with 11 points. The Knicks playing team basketball had four guys in double figures and the individual oriented Cavs had just two guys in double figures. The Cavs were being destroyed on the boards 26-17 in what could very well be Mobley’s last game in a Cavs uniform had only four rebounds to lead Cleveland in the opening half.
The third quarter was just like the opening two quarters as the Cavs cut the Knicks lead to 16 points with 9:36 left on the third quarter clock. Then in the next 1:38 the Cavs turned the ball over three times, and the Knicks lead was back at 24 points. Sam Merrill then entered the game and put up an instant brick. With 6:52 left the Cavs fans in attendance at Rocket Arena were completely humiliated as their team was getting pummeled trailing 84-56. Unfortunately, there were still over 18 minutes left on the clock in the contest. With the Knicks up by 28 points, the Cavs turned the ball over for the 13th time and took a 30 point lead with 4:25 left in the third quarter. With 2:58 left in the third period New York led 91-65 and Atkinson took a time out. When time ran out the Knicks led 91-71. The quarter ended appropriately as Mitchell missed both free throws after being fouled. He might as well just wave a white flag at the foul line instead. But a positive from his angle he did lead everyone in scoring with 28 points. Landry Shamet led the Knicks with 16 points as the Knicks had five players in double figures, the Cavs had three. The Kicks out rebounded the Cavs 18-8 in the third quarter, and the Cavs bench was outscored by New York 34-7.
The fourth quarter was more of the same as the Knicks continued to build a larger lead. With 8:37 left Eastern Conference champions led 109-76. At that point Atkinson threw in the towel for the game and possibly his Cavs head coaching career as he cleared the bench. Even the Knicks last five guys on the bench were humiliating the Cavs and took a 45 point lead with 4:00 left when Pacome Dadiet drained a three.
The Knicks have now earned the right to get throttled by either the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. It’s the first time in a full 82 game season that the Knicks have reached the finals since the 1993-94 season and have only won two championships in their 80 year history. Their last championship was in 1973.
The Cavs will probably have a lot of change before next season begins in October. We’ll have to wait and see what the changes will be.
POSTED 05/25/2026 22:59
Lake County Sentinel
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The New York Knicks recieve the Trophy for winning the Eastern Conference on Monday night at Rocket Arena after beating the Cavaliers 130-93. Photo by Tim Shirer
