The Cleveland Cavaliers came into Madison Square Garden needing a statement. They left with a hole that keeps getting deeper. New York pulled away for a 109-93 win in Game 2 on Thursday night, taking over in the third quarter and never looking back.
Cleveland had managed to stay close in the first half, but couldn't hold on once the Knicks created separation. The loss puts the Cavaliers in a 0-2 deficit, the same kind of spot they dug out of against the Detroit Pistons last round. This time, though, the issues run a little deeper.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson didn't point to effort or execution breakdowns after the game. He felt the Cavaliers generated enough quality offense against the New York Knicks, but simply failed to convert when it mattered.
"We didn't shoot the ball well," Atkinson said at the postgame press conference, via 92.3 The Fan. "I thought we had a lot of good looks. Good looks from 3s, good looks at the rim. I thought our process was right. Took care of the ball. Offensive rebounded. I think it wasn't a good shooting night. At the end of the day, you've got to put the ball in the hole. Tonight, we didn't."
Cavaliers Shooting Woes Doom Cleveland in Game 2
The numbers back him up and then some. Cleveland finished 9-for-35 from three-point range after shooting 32% from deep in Game 1. Unlike the opener, most of Thursday's misses came on clean looks. Sam Merrill went 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. Max Strus shot 1-for-4. Donovan Mitchell went 2-for-7, and Jaylon Tyson missed all three of his attempts.
It wasn't for lack of opportunity at the line either. Cleveland got to the free throw line 32 times compared to just 14 attempts for the Knicks, and still couldn't make enough of it matter.
There were individual bright spots. Mitchell and James Harden combined for 44 points, and Harden didn't turn the ball over once. The Cavaliers also held Jalen Brunson to just 11 points before garbage time. But Cleveland had no answer for Josh Hart, who put up a career-high 26 points and kept New York ahead when it mattered most.
Evan Mobley started sharp with 10 points in the first quarter and then went quiet, adding just four more and not attempting a single shot in the second half. Jarrett Allen logged only 29 minutes. The size advantage Cleveland came in with faded completely after halftime.
The Cavaliers head back home down 0-2. They've been in this spot before and found a way out. Whether they can do it again against the Knicks is the only question that matters right now.
