NEW YORK — The Cleveland Cavaliers slipped into a 2-0 hole in the Eastern Conference finals after Thursday night’s 109-93 defeat at Madison Square Garden, yet the team insisted the situation feels familiar rather than forbidding.
“This isn’t our first time facing adversity,” guard Donovan Mitchell said, pointing to the conference semifinal against Detroit in which Cleveland erased an identical deficit and advanced in seven games. “We’ve been through two Game 7s, so being down 2-0 is not the biggest challenge.”
The task remains steep. Only two clubs—the 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks and the 2020-21 LA Clippers—have overcome multiple 2-0 series deficits in one postseason. Even so, center Jarrett Allen welcomed the pressure. “That’s just how our whole playoffs have been, our back against the wall,” he said. “We’ve got to take care of home court.”
Cold shooting fuels Game 2 setback
Cleveland missed 17 of 26 three-point attempts, including 14 of 20 categorized as open looks by ESPN Research. Sharpshooter Sam Merrill, a 40% playoff three-point shooter, finished 0-for-7 from beyond the arc—his first game of any kind with at least five attempts and no makes. “Make a couple of those, we win the ballgame,” guard James Harden said. “Our process was right.”
Game 2 marked the Cavaliers’ 16th contest of a postseason that has featured two seven-game series. Since Apr. 29, the club has played every other day, yet Mitchell dismissed any fatigue concerns and again denied dealing with an injury. “We’re not tired,” he said. “We’re ready to go for Game 3.”
Knicks exploit gaps in Cleveland’s defense
New York’s Jalen Brunson handed out 14 assists, repeatedly finding Josh Hart for open looks. Hart scored a playoff-career-high 26 points, while the Cavaliers were held under 100 for the fourth time this postseason—a feat that occurred only four times during the regular schedule.
Forward Evan Mobley summarized Cleveland’s outlook heading home: “We’ve been here before. We just have to win these next two at home and keep it moving.” Game 3 is set for Saturday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Source: ESPN
