James Harden remains the face of postseason failure, shooting under 36 percent from the field (under 27 percent on 3-pointers) with more turnovers (six) than assists (five) through the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals.
Donovan Mitchell remains the face of a franchise that repeatedly fails to reach its potential, responding to Cleveland’s Game 1 collapse — in which he made one shot over the final 17 minutes — by scoring seven first-half points in Game 2.
He didn’t make his presence felt until the Cavs fell into a double-digit hole in the second half, also leaving Madison Square Garden with more turnovers (five) than assists (four) after two games.
The Cavaliers, who became one of the league’s top-rated offenses after trading for Harden in February, now head back to Cleveland with the sting of Thursday’s 109-93 loss, still seeking an offensive breakthrough against a Knicks defense that has now held opponents under 100 points on six occasions during their dominant postseason run.
Over the past 65 minutes of play — beginning with the fourth quarter of Game 1 — the Knicks have allowed only 116 points, having held Cleveland to 39 percent shooting in Game 2, including 26 percent (9-for-35) on 3-pointers.
During the Knicks’ nine-game winning streak, they have allowed an average of 98.8 points. And through 12 games, the Knicks have posted the second-best defensive NET rating in the postseason, barely behind the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs.
“Our defense was pretty good, especially when you have the talent that they have and the All-Stars that they have and the shooting that they have,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “We just have to keep mixing up what we do. Our guys did a pretty good job of trying to pay attention and lock in on the details on the defensive end.”
Sharpshooter Sam Merrill is 3-for-15 from the perimeter. Max Strus, who averaged nearly 15 points while helping the Heat eliminate the Knicks in 2023, has 13 total points. Dennis Schröder, who shot 47.6 percent on 3-pointers against the Knicks in last year’s playoff series with the Pistons, has seven points on 3-for-14 shooting.
Even Cleveland’s talented bigs have been limited.
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OG Anunoby has helped keep Jarrett Allen below his season average in both contests, while Evan Mobley — who initially caused issues for the Knicks by scoring 14 first-half points in Game 2 — was held scoreless and without a field goal attempt in the second half.
With 10:37 left in the third quarter, the score was tied. Then, the Knicks seized control with an 18-0 run, holding the Cavs without a point for more than five and a half minutes.
“We were able to get stops, run and get easy baskets,” Jalen Brunson said. “Our offense, the way we were able to play in transition, is definitely a credit to our defense.”
