Cavs down 2-0 against the Knicks, Mitchell: “This isn’t the first time”
Missed shots, fatigue and pressure: the Cavaliers walked away from Game 2 with a loss but still believe in themselves. Recent team history – and NBA history – suggests this series is far from over
The Cleveland Cavaliers are backed into a corner once again, but inside the locker room nobody seems ready to wave the white flag. After a 109-93 loss in Game 2 against the New York Knicks, the Eastern Conference Finals series tells a clear story: 2-0 New York. Still, the mood around the Cavs is anything but defeated.
The reason is simple: this team has already been through something similar. In the previous round, Cleveland also fell behind 2-0 against Detroit before storming back and winning the series in seven games. A recent memory that continues to fuel confidence within the group.
Donovan Mitchell explained that mindset after the game:
This isn’t the first time we’ve faced adversity. We’ve already played two Game 7s, so being down 2-0 isn’t the biggest challenge. It’s just another situation we have to deal with
Donovan Mitchell
Of course, the mountain to climb remains massive. In NBA history, only two teams have come back from a 2-0 deficit multiple times in the same postseason: the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, who went on to win the championship, and the LA Clippers, who reached the Conference Finals that same year.
Cleveland holding on to positive signs
Despite the fairly one-sided final score, the Cavaliers left Madison Square Garden with a few encouraging takeaways. After collapsing in the fourth quarter of Game 1, there was a real risk of carrying that frustration mentally into the next game. Instead, Cleveland stayed within striking distance for long stretches of Game 2.
The biggest issue? The open shots simply didn’t fall.
The Cavs finished just 9-for-26 from three-point range, missing several clean looks generated by solid offensive execution. The clearest example was Sam Merrill, one of Cleveland’s best playoff shooters, who finished the night 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.
James Harden also defended the team’s offensive process:
We just didn’t make shots. We had a lot of open looks. If a couple more go in, we probably win the game. The way we played was the right way
James Harden
No excuses: “We’re not tired”
Between long series and a packed schedule, Cleveland has essentially been playing every other day since late April. Game 2 marked the Cavaliers’ 16th playoff game already. Even so, Mitchell has no interest in discussing fatigue.
We’re not tired. We’ll be ready for Game 3
Donovan Mitchell
Still, confidence alone won’t be enough. Cleveland knows significant adjustments will be necessary, especially on the defensive end.
The Knicks have found production from multiple contributors: Jalen Brunson carved up Cleveland’s defense with 14 assists, while Josh Hart punished overly aggressive help defense with 26 points, a new playoff career high.
Evan Mobley also pointed back to the team’s recent experience:
We’re in the same situation as last round. The positive thing is we’ve already been here. We need to win the next two at home and keep fighting
Evan Mobley
Now the series shifts to Cleveland. For the Cavaliers, it’s already time for a reality check.