Donovan Mitchell admitted he would like to return to Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, where he and the Cleveland Cavaliers committed an all-time meltdown in the series opener en route to being swept.
Donovan Mitchell hasn’t gotten over the Cleveland Cavaliers’ infamous collapse against the New York Knicks in the previous NBA Playoffs.
Position
PG, SG
Age
29
Height
188 cm
Weight
98 kg
Birth place
United States of America
Primarily, the superstar guard wishes he could turn back the hands of time and help the Cavs redeem themselves in their Game 1 blunder of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“If there’s ever a situation in my nine years, going on 10, which is crazy, where I’m like, you want a game back, I think, out of all the games, of course, that [Game 1],” Mitchell said on Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady.
“We played so well in Game 7 [against the Detroit Pistons]. We riding and we carried it completely over to Game 1.”
Donovan Mitchell, Cavs commit brutal choke job in Game 1 of East Finals vs Knicks
Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, eventually losing 115-104 in overtime to the New York Knicks.
They committed one of the most disastrous choke jobs in the league’s postseason history, as NBA playoff teams leading by 22 or more points in the final quarter held a record of 594-1 before the game.
With Jalen Brunson taking it over and James Harden constantly being exploited, the Knicks delivered the successful comeback. Mitchell erupted for 29 points in the first three quarters, but suddenly became passive down the stretch.
The catastrophic result of Game 1 ruined the Cavs for the rest of the series, as the Knicks eventually swept them in four games en route to winning the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973.
The Knicks and the Cavaliers will face off multiple times during the upcoming 2026-27 NBA regular season, beginning Nov. 7 in Rocket Arena.
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