The New York Knicks’ strong start to the season is in jeopardy after being routed by the Cleveland Cavaliers 142-105. The loss is their fourth against top-ranked teams in the East, with an average margin of defeat of 23.25 points. Despite having key players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks struggled to contain the Cavs’ offense.
“We can’t explain it,” said Brunson, who was at a loss for words after the game. “We didn’t set the tone from the start.” Backup guard Miles McBride echoed this sentiment, saying that every Cavs player is a threat and that they played the right way to exploit mismatches.
The Knicks’ defense was exposed once again, with a 119.3 net rating over their last 10 games. They rank 18th in the league, making it a concern for fans who are holding out hope that the return of wing OG Anunoby and center Mitchel Robinson can turn things around. However, with big stars like Brunson and Towns not being great defenders, the team’s overall defensive capabilities are uncertain.
The biggest news from the game is that Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen left with a hand injury that could keep him out for an extended period. The 46-10 Cavs have built a six-game lead over the second-seed Celtics, putting pressure on the Knicks to improve their performance if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
Source: https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/cavaliers-rout-knicks-by-37-turning-up-volume-on-questions-about-knicks-postseason-chances