Donovan Mitchell says the Cavaliers have a three-pronged plan to win Game 4 on May 25 and avoid the indignity of being swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
“Let’s start with making some shots,” Mitchell said, referring to the Cavs shooting 29.3 percent on 3s (12 for 41) in the 121-108 loss in Game 3 on May 23. “And start with getting some stops and making some free throws.”
The Cavaliers missed 10 of 32 free throw attempts in Game 2. They were 12 of 19 from the stripe in Game 3. Mitchell missed 4 of 6 free throws in Game 3 in a game the Cavaliers never led.
The Game 3 defeat was the second straight for the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, where they were a perfect 4-0 against the Raptors in the first round and 2-0 against the Pistons in the second round. Then the Pistons won Game 6 in Cleveland, and now the Knicks neutralized any home-court edge the Cavs would normally enjoy after the Knicks won the first two games in Madison Square Garden.
Game 4 is set to tip off at 8:12 p.m. May 25 at Rocket Arena. The Cavs have to win to extend their season at least one more game. Ever the optimists, the front page of the Cavs.com website shows Game 5 will be played May 27 at Madison Square Garden. There is no obligatory asterisk with the words “if necessary” attached to the game-time announcement.
“We have another opportunity on Monday,” James Harden said. “That’s all you can control — one game at a time.
“We have to make shots. I feel like we haven’t made shots since the first couple quarters of Game 1. We’re still confident. Confidence hasn’t gone away. We’re more than capable.”
The Cavaliers are still feeling sorry for themselves for blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1 and losing in overtime. A coach with more fire than Kenny Atkinson has shown might tell his players, “Get over it.” The Knicks were spurred by an 18-0 third-quarter run in Game 2 to win that game, 109-93.
“We were up 20 in Game 1,” Mitchell said. “If we win Game 1, I don’t think you guys are asking these questions (about being fatigued). We blew an opportunity in Game 1. We didn’t shoot well in Game 2. We didn’t shoot well and we didn’t really guard well (in Game 3).
“Those are the three losses. We have an opportunity to change that in Game 4 and then go get one in New York.”
The Knicks were one step ahead of the Cavs in each of the first three games. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored 38 points in Game 1. The Cavs made it difficult for him to match that in Game 2, so he was content being the facilitator. He dished out a playoff career high of 14 assists, which led to Josh Hart scoring a playoff career high 26 points.
The Knicks offense went through center Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 3. He scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He had a team-high seven of the Knicks’ 27 assists. Brunson scored a game-high 30 points.
Cavaliers center Evan Mobley blocks a shot by Knicks forward Og Anunoby on May 24. (Sue Ogrocki – The Associated Press)
Knicks at Cavaliers
What: Eastern Conference finals, Game 4; Knicks lead series, 3-0
When: 8 p.m., May 25
Where: Rocket Arena
TV: ESPN
Radio: WMMS 100.7 FM