{"id":1367,"date":"2026-05-24T05:35:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T05:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=1367"},"modified":"2026-05-24T05:35:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T05:35:45","slug":"donovan-mitchell-cavs-fall-into-perilous-3-0-hole-as-knicks-keeping-rolling-on-road-in-east-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=1367","title":{"rendered":"Donovan Mitchell, Cavs fall into perilous 3-0 hole as Knicks keeping rolling on road in East finals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) during the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in Cleveland, Monday, May 24, 2027. (AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

CLEVELAND \u2014 Donovan Mitchell has lacked his customary explosiveness and not looked like himself through three games of the Eastern Conference finals. Something seems off with the All-Star guard.<\/p>

Read more Lucas Giolito and 4 relievers pitch the Padres to a 2-0 win over the Athletics<\/a><\/p>\n

Same for the Cavaliers.<\/p>\n

They may soon have time to heal. Like all summer.<\/p>\n

Cleveland is on the brink of elimination.<\/p>\n

The Cavs couldn\u2019t match New York\u2019s force, firepower or balance despite being on their home floor and lost Game 3 to the Knicks 121-108<\/a> on Saturday night to fall into a perilous postseason hole in the best-of-seven series.<\/p>\n

No team in NBA history has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit, and the Cavs aren\u2019t showing signs of becoming the first in 164 tries.<\/p>\n

Mitchell did what he could, scoring 23 points. But he didn\u2019t have his burst and committed five of his team\u2019s 18 turnovers as the Cavs couldn\u2019t contain the Knicks, who were cheered on a by a raucous group of New York fans that invaded Rocket Arena.<\/p>\n

Following the game, Mitchell sat in a chair behind the table before his media interview and stared blankly at a box score underscoring New York\u2019s dominance.<\/p>\n

Asked what it\u2019s going to take to avoid a sweep and win Game 4 on Monday night, Mitchell was succinct.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s start with making some shots,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s start with getting some stops and making some free throws.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitchell\u2019s first trip to a conference final after so many second-round exits hasn\u2019t gone as hoped. The Cavs, who were pushed to seven games by Toronto and Detroit earlier in the playoffs, blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

They battled for much of Game 2 before fading and are now dragging physically after weeks of playing every other day. The Knicks, who had time to rest after sweeping Philadelphia in the second round, are taking advantage of Cleveland\u2019s heavy legs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did it to ourselves,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cWe can\u2019t be mad now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just as in the first two games, New York was the more aggressive team in the early going, jumping to a 9-1 lead in the opening two minutes and forcing Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson to call a timeout. The Cavs regrouped, but their sloppiness combined with New York\u2019s ability to get out in transition and score proved too much.<\/p>

Read more Ehlers\u2019 huge Game 2 performance in Eastern Conference Final pushes Hurricanes past Canadiens in OT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir physicality and energy level was higher than ours,\u201d Atkinson said. \u201cThey were the more physical team and we couldn\u2019t get to that level. Whatever the stats say, they were the better team. They\u2019re playing great basketball. They\u2019re on a hell of a run and we haven\u2019t been able to stop the momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cavs had seized it in the series opener before a stunning collapse that has already provided Mitchell with a lasting lesson.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t lose Game 1 after being up 22,\u201d he said when asked about what\u2019s soured his conference final debut. \u201cBut hey, it happened and now we have to find a way to get back from 3-0. We just have to find a way. We were up 22. It\u2019s on us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the closing minutes, thousands of blue-and-orange-clad New York fans were hollering \u201cKnicks in 4!\u201d and serenading Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 points and added six assists, with chants of \u201cM-V-P\u201d at the foul line.<\/p>\n

Those moments normally belong only to Mitchell in Cleveland. But the Knicks are taking everything away from the Cavs. Mitchell said the noise wasn\u2019t unexpected.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m from New York, this doesn\u2019t shock me,\u201d he said. \u201cThey do it in every arena. It\u2019s like (Dallas) Cowboys fans. It\u2019s just who they are. It wasn\u2019t just a Cleveland thing. That\u2019s how Knicks fans are. I was one back in the day. That had nothing to do with what\u2019s going on in Cleveland. We didn\u2019t get it done for our home crowd tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the game, Atkinson described Mitchell\u2019s physical issues as merely \u201cbumps and bruises.\u201d The All-Star, who left the floor for treatment in the first quarter, is now dealing with the mental strain of a deficit that\u2019s probably too large to overtake.<\/p>\n

Mitchell, though, isn\u2019t giving up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an opportunity to get one (win) on Monday,\u201d he said. \u201cThen go back to New York and get one there and come back here.\u201d<\/p>

Read more PK goals by Logan Farrington, Santiago Moreno send Dallas to 2-1 victory over Rapids<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NBA: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nba<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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