CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers rebounded from a tough road loss in another marquee game, prevailing 109-94 against the New York Knicks on Feb. 24 at Rocket Arena.
The Cavs were coming off a loss at defending NBA champion Oklahoma City, albeit a skeleton crew version of the Thunder as they dealt with several injuries. The loss snapped Cleveland’s seven-game winning streak, which had been intact since it acquired James Harden and others prior to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
But the Cavs (37-22) avenged their two previous defeats this season at the hands of the Knicks (37-22). The result moved the Cavs into a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference, though the Knicks hold the tiebreaker between the two teams.
Here is how a nationally televised clash between the Cavs and Knicks unfolded through our updates:
Guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden led the Cavs with 23 and 20 points, respectively. Center Jarrett Allen posted a double-double (19 points and 10 rebounds).
Three other Cavs players scored in double figures: Forward Evan Mobley (12 points), wing Jaylon Tyson (12 points) and forward Dean Wade (11 points).
Point guard Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 20 points, followed by guard Mikal Bridges with 18 points and center Karl-Anthony Towns with 14 points. Center Mitchell Robinson had 11 points and 15 rebounds off the bench.
The Cavs and Knicks tied with 44 rebounds apiece, but Cleveland won the turnover battle 16-11.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t in a rush for bedtime.
The Cavs had a 98-78 lead with 5:10 left in the fourth quarter when Atkinson challenged a foul called on Keon Ellis as the Cavs guard defended Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson.
Atkinson won the challenge, but the result of the play was a made field goal by Brunson, meaning the Knicks trimmed their deficit to 98-80.
It was Atkinson’s second challenge late in the game.
With 6:27 left, Atkinson won a challenge after Cavs guard James Harden had been called for an offensive foul. The call was reversed, with Knicks guard Mikal Bridges picking up his fourth foul of the game.
The Cavs led the Knicks 93-74 during a New York timeout with 7:39 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Cavs forward Evan Mobley turned a missed 3-pointer by guard Donovan Mitchell into a putback dunk, sending the Knicks into a timeout. Guard James Harden drained a 3-pointer for the Cavs on their previous possession.
The Cavs just held the Knicks to one of their worst offensive quarters of the season and will take an 83-65 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Knicks scored only 11 points in the third quarter, finishing just 3-for-24 from the field. At one point, the Cavs bench jokingly waved their towels at Dean Wade, who’s been all over the Knicks on the defensive side of the floor.
The Cavs are up 77-64 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
James Harden has eight points this quarter, including a 3 he just hit to extend the Cavs’ lead to 13. Jarrett Allen has six points and four rebounds in the third quarter lone. Those two are enjoying a two-man game, and the Cavs have held the Knicks at bay all night.
The Cavs will take a 60-54 lead into halftime.
Cleveland came out of a timeout on fire, with back-to-back possessions ending with a Jarrett Allen dunk.
Donovan Mitchell has a game-high 15 points and four assists on 4-for-10 shooting at the half. James Harden is also 4-for-10 from the floor for nine points and four assists.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has 13 points and two assists on an efficient 4-for-7 from the floor.
The Cavaliers lead has been chipped away to one possession, and Cleveland now leads 52-49 with 2:13 left in the second quarter.
The Knicks have three offensive rebounds in this quarter, and those extra possessions have led to eight points. The Cavs’ rebounding has been a focal point of discussion lately, and it’s become an issue in this quarter.
The Cavs did get a glimpse of one of the reasons why they liked the addition of Harden, in that he can slow down some bad momentum. With the Knicks rolling, Harden took control of a possession and ended it with a layup as the shot clock expired, giving the Cavs a chance to catch their breath a bit.
The Cavs and Knicks have played a tougher, playoff style of basketball in this second quarter, and Cleveland now leads 46-39 with six minutes remaining in the first half.
Neither team has shot well in this quarter, which has seen an uptick in physicality.
Dennis Schroder had a nice dish to a cutting Jaylon Tyson that led to a dunk. A few possessions later, after the Knicks cut it to a four-point deficit, Schroder hit a 3 to again extend the advantage to seven.
The Cavs led the Knicks 35-26 at the end of the first quarter. Forward Dean Wade made a buzzer-beater 3-pointer on an assist from guard Donovan Mitchell as the quarter ended on a high note for Cleveland.
Mitchell led the Cavs with nine points in the opening quarter, followed by fellow guard James Harden with seven points and center Jarrett Allen and Wade with six points each.
Guard Jalen Brunson and forward Josh Hart paced the Knicks with seven points apiece in the first quarter.
The Cavs went 14-of-26 shooting (53.8%) from the field (5 of 11 on 3-pointers, 45.5%) in the first quarter. The Knicks went 10-of-20 shooting (50%) from the floor (2 of 8 on 3s, 25%).
The Cavs led the Knicks during a timeout with 2:32 left in the first quarter.
Guard Donovan Mitchell had one of Cleveland’s early highlights when he took a pass from driving point guard Dennis Schroder and hammered a dunk for a 27-21 lead with 2:53 remaining.
Center Jarrett Allen produced another standout play when he made a finger roll while being fouled by guard Josh Hart. Unfortunately for Allen, he missed a subsequent foul shot and a chance for a three-point play with 4:56 remaining.
The Cavs led the Knicks 17-12 during a New York timeout with 7:01 remaining in the opening quarter.
Forward Evan Mobley made an open jump shot, and guard Donovan Mitchell made a layup after gathering a steal. The sequence boosted the Cavs to a five-point lead after Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns had trimmed New York’s deficit to one point by splitting a pair of free throws with 8:24 left.
Below is some pregame information.
The Cavs announced they will start the following players:
- Point guard James Harden
- Guard Donovan Mitchell
- Small forward Dean Wade
- Forward Evan Mobley
- Center Jarrett Allen
The Knicks will start the following players against the Cavs:
- Point guard Jalen Brunson
- Guard Mikal Bridges
- Forward Josh Hart
- Forward OG Anunoby
- Center Karl-Anthony Towns
The Cavaliers are about as healthy as they’ve been all year, though they’ll still be without small forward Max Strus, who has yet to make his season debut following offseason foot surgery.
The Knicks will be without guard Miles McBride (core surgery).
The Feb. 24 Cavs-Knicks game can be watched on Peacock. It can heard on the radio on 100.7 WMMS, 1100 WTAM and S: LA MEGA 1300.
Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich cover the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal.
