Cleveland Cavaliers Defeat New York Knicks in 109-94 Final in Bounce Back Win

In a battle of two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers soundly beat the New York Knicks behind a gem of a game from Jarrett Allen to bounce back from their loss on Sunday to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Cleveland’s Defense Shuts Down Knicks Offense

It’s a tall task to put together a great defensive gameplan to counteract the New York Knicks star power on offense, but the Cavaliers were able to meet that task and then some in their win. Cleveland held the Knicks to just 40% shooting from the field, and 27% from three as they clamped up Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson, holding him to just 20 points on 6-for-19 shooting for the game.

The second half would be where the Cavaliers’ defense would shine the most, as they would hold the Knicks to just 11 total points in the 3rd quarter to create enough distance to cruise to the win. Cavaliers star Jarrett Allen would be the focal point of both Cleveland’s offense and defensive game plan, as he dropped a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds while also adding in 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Allen would not be alone on offense, as both James Harden and Donovan Mitchell continued to showcase why they’re one of the most dangerous backcourt duos in the league. Mitchell would score a team-high 23 points, while Harden would score 20 points and dish out four assists in a great showing on offense for both players. The Cavaliers’ three-point shooting was also operating at a high level, as Cleveland shot 37% from beyond the arc in the win.

Knicks Continue to Struggle Against Quality Opponents

It hasn’t been the kindest of times for the Knicks over the past few weeks against the top teams in the Eastern Conference, as this latest loss marks their second against a top-4-seeded team in the East in a week. Not only is it another loss against elite teams, but it’s another non-competitive loss, as their losses against both Detroit and Cleveland were by an average of 15 points over that span.

Much of the Knicks’ struggles over the past week comes from the sparse offensive production they’ve received from their core players. The two biggest disappointments for the Knicks tonight were both OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, who both struggled to find their shot in the loss. Hart would score 10 points, and Anunoby would drop just five points, with both players shooting a combined 6-for-20 from the floor.

Turnovers also played a significant factor in the loss for New York, as they committed 16 turnovers, which directly led to 17 easy points in transition for the Cavaliers. Neither team was able to gain an edge on the glass, with both teams standing even in rebounds with 44 apiece.

Eastern Conference Standings Continue to Be Pure Chaos

Outside of the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference, it continues to be a battlefield at every spot down the standings in the East, with tonight’s game keeping that trend going again. This win for the Cavaliers ties them with the Knicks for the 3rd-place position, as both teams now possess a 37-22 record. This last win for Cleveland marked their 8th win in the last 10 games, which has helped them close the gap with the Knicks, who haven’t been lower than the 4th seed line this season.

After the Pistons’ loss against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, the first seed is finally within striking distance for the best teams in the East. The 2nd-place Boston Celtics now sit just four and a half games back of Detroit, while both the Knicks and Cavaliers are six and a half games back. If the Pistons falter any further down the stretch, there could be a multitude of different teams that could claim the top seed in the East at the end of the season.