05/20/26 04:53:00
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05/20 16:52 CDT Cavaliers shrug off concerns about Harden as they try to even
the East finals against the Knicks
Cavaliers shrug off concerns about Harden as they try to even the East finals
against the Knicks
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) --- Jalen Brunson against Donovan Mitchell was the
matchup splashed across the screens to hype the Eastern Conference finals.
Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, it turned into Brunson versus James
Harden in the fourth quarter of Game 1.
Brunson continuously attacked the matchup to spark one of the largest
postseason comebacks on record, as the New York Knicks rallied from a 22-point
deficit in the fourth quarter for a 115-104 victory. A day later, the Cavaliers
shrugged off concerns that one of the most accomplished offensive players in
league history might be too poor of a defender to give them NBA Finals hopes.
"I know everybody's putting it on James, but I'd say a lot of, it's on the
team, our team defense," coach Kenny Atkinson said Wednesday after the
Cavaliers practiced at Madison Square Garden. "And we were great for three
quarters. Like, really, really great. So we can do it."
The Cavs will try again Thursday, hoping to even the series before it shifts to
their home court over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Atkinson took as much, if not more, heat than Harden for waiting too long to
use a timeout to stop New York's momentum after Brunson kept driving right at
Harden as the catalyst for an 18-1 run.
"Kenny's a great coach and we know that they're going to come out ready to
play," said the Knicks' Mike Brown, who worked with Atkinson when both were
assistants to Steve Kerr in Golden State. "They came to New York to get one
game and it's still within reach."
The Cavs know they should have it already. They controlled the middle two
quarters against a Knicks team that showed plenty of rust in its first game
since May 10. Looking nothing like the team that won by 19.4 points per game in
the previous two rounds, the Knicks finally went to an offensive scheme that
forced Harden to switch onto Brunson, and the All-Star guard had four straight
New York baskets during the run.
Cleveland reserve guard Dennis Schroder credited Brunson more than blaming
Harden.
"Jalen Brunson is one of the most clutch players in the NBA. Social media for
that is just in a bad place," Schroder said. "I think that we lost the game.
Basketball is a team game. It's everybody on the bench, coaches, the guys who
were on the court. At the end of the day, he made some tough shots and good
credit."
The Cavaliers surged late in the season after acquiring Harden from the Los
Angeles Clippers. Harden is ninth in NBA history with nearly 30,000 points and
also 12th in assists. The 2018 NBA MVP was playing on an MSG court Tuesday
where he shares the record with Kobe Bryant for points by an opponent with 61.
But he's had some sloppy performances in the postseason and Game 1 was another.
Harden shot 5 for 16 overall and 1 for 8 from 3-point range, and had twice as
many turnovers (6) as assists. He's bounced back before and Atkinson believes
he will again.
"I said, ?Without you, we're knocked out in the first round.' That's my first
(opinion). My personal opinion," Atkinson said. "So, let's just stop that.
We're in a great position. ?You've played great.' You know, sometimes micro
experiences get exaggerated. ?So, you know, keep being yourself.'"
The Knicks, who have won eight straight games, understand how the Cavs must be
feeling, after a loss that was every bit as gut-wrenching in Game 1 of the 2025
East finals.
New York led Indiana by 14 points with under three minutes remaining in
regulation. The Pacers rallied to tie when Tyrese Haliburton's long jumper
bounced high off the rim and fell through as time expired, then won 138-135 in
overtime.
"Obviously they're looking at it like that was our game that we gave away,"
Knicks forward Josh Hart said of the Cavaliers. "And they're looking at film
of, ?If we fix this here or fix this here, we would have won the game.' And
that's what they're going to try to do tomorrow."
___
AP freelance writer Adry Torres in New York contributed to this report.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
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