New York Knicks lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-104: Failure to close

Continuity reigned as the New York Knicks fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-104. New York failed to protect a lead in the third quarter, and Cleveland’s chemistry shined down the stretch.

The game was a grind for most of the night. Both sides defended well, with the refs allowing physicality, including a pair of hard fouls. New York cruised to a first-half lead, with significant contributions from Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart.

The team continued to roll into the third quarter until Jalen Brunson left the game after a clash of knees. By the time Brunson returned, Hart was hobbled, Bridges cooled off, and Karl-Anthony Towns never got going.

Darius Garland exploded in the fourth quarter, and Brunson couldn’t keep up. The team’s chemistry failed against a Cleveland side with far more experience together. 

Notable Performances

A pair of Nova boys lead the way

Josh Hart: 16 PTS (4/10 FG, 2/5 3PT, 6/6 FT), 2 AST, 13 REB, 3 STL, 5 TO in 38 mins

Josh Hart single-handedly drove the Knicks’ energy. New York’s half-court offense looked clunky, but Hart continually grabbed defensive rebounds and pushed the pace. Those transition opportunities helped the team find a rhythm.

Hart wasn’t perfect; his constant pace-pushing meant more turnovers than usual. But his work on the boards, defensively, and in transition kept the Knicks running.

Hart left the game with a leg injury late in the fourth. His presence wouldn’t guarantee a different result, but his absence was felt.

Mikal Bridges: 19 PTS (9/15 FG, 1/4 3PT), 3 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 40 mins

The Cavaliers used switches to disrupt the Knicks’ initial action and keep pressure on ball-handlers. That left Bridges with advantageous matchups early and often. He capitalized by posting up smaller defenders and beating bigs with quickness.

Bridges also played strong defense for most of the night. Garland and Mitchell may have shot well, but it was a case of good defense meets better offense.

Bridges’ offensive contributions seemed to wane as the game wore on. It could be because the game became more half-court oriented, with Brunson isolating often. Or he may have slowed down thanks to 40 minutes of action, which is by far the most in the game.

The stars are searching for chemistry

Jalen Brunson: 21 PTS (8/24 FG, 0/4 3PT, 5/7 FT), 7 AST, 3 REB, 1 TO in 38 mins

Cleveland threw bigger-bodied, quality defenders at Jalen Brunson all night. Brunson got to his spots and looks but failed to find a consistent rhythm.

While Brunson scored effectively in spells, he was more successful as a playmaker. Down the stretch, he settled for isolations, which ground the offense to a halt.

I’ll chalk the struggles up to a new team with new pieces. New York’s offense is a work in progress, and we’ve seen plenty of promise from the starters. This was their first taste of a close game in the fourth quarter, and it showed.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 13 PTS (4/8 FG, 1/2 3PT, 4/4 FT), 3 AST, 10 REB, 1 STL, 3 TO in 32 mins

The Cavs have a pair of talented big defenders who matched Karl-Anthony Towns. But he still felt underutilized and arguably passive. 

Towns did well enough on the glass, but his defense was disappointing. Cleveland’s guards scored too easily at the rim, as Towns dropped too far and failed to protect the rim effectively.

The bench needs more production

Deuce McBride: 14 PTS (6/12 FG, 2/6 3PT), 4 AST, 3 REB, 1 TO in 29 mins

Deuce McBride accounted for 70% of the Knicks’ bench scoring. He played a key role in the rotation, playing with the starters and leading the second unit.

Deuce mixed in some playmaking and defended admirably for most of the night. But he did seem to struggle to contain the Cavs’ guards down the stretch.

Cam Payne: 6 PTS (2/7 FG, 2/3 3PT), 1 AST, 3 REB, 1 TO in 10 mins

I assume Cam Payne’s minutes were cut due to poor shot selection. He’s the second-unit point guard but only seemed interested in getting his shot off. 

Payne barely played in the second half. New York’s bench is thin, so Cam’s poor play feels magnified on nights like this.

Other Notes

• Ariel Hukporti appeared to overtake Jericho Sims in the rotation. While his numbers are sparing, he defended well and cleared space for other rebounders like Josh Hart.

• OG Anunoby played well in the first half but felt less effective in the latter portion of the game. 

• Look no further than the turnovers for signs of New York’s chemistry issues. The starters shared 13 turnovers.

Closing Thoughts

This is a tough loss, but it reflects a new roster learning to play together. The Cavs have a strong defense, and Darius Garland went unstoppable down the stretch. 

Win or lose, the Knicks need games like this. They must be tested and learn to trust each other in difficult situations.

I trust Tom Thibodeau and Jalen Brunson to figure out how to close games with this roster's talent. It’s a matter of when not if.

See you next time, Knicks fam!