CLEVELAND — Knicks Overpowered by Cavs

The Knicks faced a tough challenge against the Cavaliers, ultimately losing 109-94 in a game that was pretty much decided early on.

Tuesday night’s shooting was a nightmare for New York, particularly the third quarter, which was, frankly, dismal. The Knicks managed to score a mere 11 points during that stretch, totaling just 3-for-24 shooting, including 1-for-12 from three-point range, and going 4-for-8 at the free-throw line.

This poor performance left the team trailing by 18 points at the start of the fourth quarter. They couldn’t find a way to recover, unable to counter Cleveland’s solid defense and effective shooting.

With 2:42 remaining, Mike Brown decided to clear the bench, signaling a clear surrender after a frustrating night. Key players like Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson struggled significantly, as Bridges shot 6-of-17 while Brunson fared even worse at 6-of-19. There was also Karl-Anthony Towns, who, despite being perfect on his five attempts, didn’t contribute enough, adding to the overall confusion of alternating between impressive and underwhelming performances. Anunoby, too, couldn’t find his groove, scoring just 5 points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Brown’s decision to give Jeremy Sochan a chance didn’t pan out either, as he looked out of sync in his brief appearance. Mohamed Diawara also struggled after being called off the bench in the second half.

In fairness to Cleveland, they didn’t even have to be stellar to win. Shooting 42.5% as a team, they still managed to dominate the game against the Knicks.

Both teams now stand at 37-22, and the Knicks find themselves tied with the Cavaliers but lagging behind the Celtics by at least 1.5 games. Meanwhile, the Cavs seem to be on an upward trajectory after shaking things up at the trade deadline, bringing in James Harden to replace the often-inactive Darius Garland, along with Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.

Since the change, Cleveland has found success, winning 13 out of their last 15 games. Coach Kenny Atkinson, who had missed the chance to coach Harden in Brooklyn, is now eager for this opportunity. He praised Harden’s leadership, noting his ability to calm the game and guide his teammates effectively.

The Knicks were well aware of how challenging it is to defend against Harden and Donovan Mitchell, often considered one of the top offensive duos in the league.

Still, the Knicks’ issue on Tuesday wasn’t about defense. It was more about their inability to find the rim.

As Bridges put it, “You know how tough Harden is. He creates not just for himself but for everyone else at a really high level. With how well Donovan is playing, it definitely poses a challenge.”