The Cleveland Cavaliers fell into a 3-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals after a 121-108 loss to the New York Knicks, and Jarrett Allen pointed to one clear problem from the opening tip.
“They just hit first in the first quarter,” Allen said. “They made the first impact in the game and they just had the energy and effort from there.”
New York controlled Game 3 at Rocket Arena, building early separation and never trailing, with Jalen Brunson scoring 30 points and Mikal Bridges adding 22 in a wire-to-wire performance.
Allen said Cleveland’s inability to establish early physicality forced the rest of the game into catch-up mode.
“They came out and threw the first punch and then we’re having to figure out how to play catch-up basketball,” Allen said.
The Cavaliers struggled to match New York’s pace and shot-making, as the Knicks hit 55.8% from the field and went 24-of-27 from the free-throw line. Cleveland, by contrast, shot 12-of-41 from three-point range and 12-of-19 at the line.
Allen, who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, also pointed to the Knicks’ transition attack as a key swing factor once Cleveland’s offense stalled.
“They definitely made it a point to get the ball out quick and attack us when our defense wasn’t set,” Allen said. “Josh Hart was attacking, OG was attacking. We got to get back and make sure that we set our defense so that doesn’t happen.”
New York’s ability to turn misses into fast-break opportunities became a recurring issue for Cleveland throughout the game, especially during second-half runs that pushed the margin beyond double digits.
Allen tied the problem directly to shot-making on the other end, explaining how offensive struggles compounded defensive breakdowns.
“When you don’t hit shots, your defense suffers,” Allen said. “That’s just how player mentality is. When you don’t hit shots, it affects your game. We can’t let that happen though.”
Cleveland briefly found momentum in the second quarter, tying the game at 50 before New York responded with a 10-1 run. Allen said those swings have defined the series.
“We just have to understand that we have to be in better positions to make the pass easier,” Allen said when discussing turnovers and ball movement issues.
The Knicks’ defensive activity also disrupted Cleveland’s interior passing, particularly when Evan Mobley operated in the middle of the floor.
“They were definitely in every single passing lane tonight,” Allen said. “It’s not always on the player who passes the ball when it comes to turnovers.”
With Cleveland now facing elimination pressure, Allen shifted focus to recovery and urgency ahead of Game 4 on Monday.
“It starts right after the game,” Allen said when discussing recovery. “You get your shake in, your protein shake, your pills, just doing every single thing that you can nutrition wise to make sure that you recover.”
The Cavaliers center also stressed the short turnaround as part of the challenge in the series, but kept the emphasis on response rather than circumstance.
“We have to take it game by game and try to win the next one,” Allen said.
Despite trailing 3-0, Allen said the team’s mindset has not wavered, even after another home loss to the Knicks.
“We’re still confident,” Allen said. “We just need some things to shift.”
Cleveland will attempt to extend its season in Game 4 as the Knicks look to complete a sweep and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
