The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their impressive form with a dominating 142-105 win over the New York Knicks on Friday night, moving to the top of the Eastern Conference’s best record with a 46-10 mark. Donovan Mitchell led the charge, scoring 27 points, while Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cavs’ bench proved to be too much for the Knicks.
The Cavaliers’ sixth straight win sets them up for another big weekend ahead, as they host the top-scoring Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Knicks are struggling with injuries and a tough schedule, having lost their last game in overtime against the Chicago Bulls just a night earlier.
Coach Kenny Atkinson downplayed the significance of the win, saying it was more about what the team learned from playing a top-notch opponent like the Knicks. “I think we got good feedback on what could work if you play this team in the playoffs,” he said.
On the other hand, the Knicks’ coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged that his team’s struggles were due to their inability to protect the basket and get hit quick by the Cavs’ offense. “You can’t allow anything to break you,” he emphasized.
Despite Darius Garland hitting his head in the first half, the Cavaliers managed to stay on track and played most of the second half without injured center Jarrett Allen. The Knicks saw OG Anunoby return from a toe injury but struggled with rust and turnovers.
The Cavs’ victory marked their 14th win by at least 20 points this season, tying their franchise record for most games won in such fashion. The team also scored over 140 points for the fourth time in 2024-25, solidifying their place as one of the top teams in the league.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43959120/cavaliers-blow-knicks-37-points-handing-new-york-worst-loss-tom-thibodeau