The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading home down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals after a 109-93 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, but head coach Kenny Atkinson said he still believes Cleveland’s offensive process was mostly correct despite the result.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well,” Atkinson said after the game. “I thought we had a lot of good looks. Good looks from three. Good looks at the rim. I thought our process was right.”
Cleveland opened the night with 27 first-quarter points but failed to reach that total in any of the remaining three quarters. The Cavaliers finished just 9-for-35 from three-point range and shot 39% overall while missing 10 free throws.
“At the end of the day, you got to put the ball in the hole,” Atkinson said. “Tonight, we didn’t.”
The Knicks took control with an 18-0 run in the third quarter after the game was tied at 53. Jalen Brunson started the burst with a three-pointer and finished with 19 points and a playoff career-high 14 assists, while Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points and hit five three-pointers.
Atkinson credited Brunson for adjusting to Cleveland’s defensive coverage.
“That’s what great players do, right?” Atkinson said. “They read the game, and the game dictated that. Obviously, we’re loaded up more to him and he found other guys.”
The Cavaliers focused heavily on limiting Brunson’s scoring after he erupted for 38 points in Game 1. Atkinson acknowledged that strategy created opportunities elsewhere for New York’s offense.
“You got to pick your poison,” Atkinson said. “That’s what the playoffs are about.”
Hart became one of the main beneficiaries of that approach. The veteran wing added seven assists and repeatedly punished Cleveland for helping off him on the perimeter.
Atkinson also addressed Cleveland’s difficulty getting Evan Mobley involved after halftime. Mobley scored 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting but attempted zero shots after the break.
“As well as Evan played in the first half, he should have more shots,” Atkinson said. “We got to find a way to get them involved more even with the defense they’re playing.”
The Cavaliers repeatedly saw New York collapse into the paint against pick-and-roll actions involving Mobley and Jarrett Allen. According to Atkinson, Cleveland’s big men often made the correct read by kicking the ball out to open shooters.
“My big preaching to them these past day or two is hit the open man,” Atkinson said. “And I felt like they did that.”
Cleveland generated quality perimeter looks statistically, according to Atkinson, but could not convert consistently enough to keep pace.
“We knew coming into this series we’re going to have to make threes,” Atkinson said. “We can easily go home and shoot 43% and maybe it’s a different story.”
Atkinson also commented on Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 26 points after concerns about his movement surfaced again during the game.
“I did see him trying to work through it,” Atkinson said. “Probably some stiffness.”
Still, the Cavaliers coach said Mitchell told him he was fine when asked about coming out in the fourth quarter.
Despite the 2-0 deficit, Atkinson remained optimistic about the series shifting back to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday.
“Listen, we could easily have stole Game 1,” Atkinson said. “I thought our process was right tonight. So that gives me confidence going home.”
