Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson says they got a ‘little unlucky’ during historic Knicks collapse
New York Post • • general
Key Points:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a historic collapse in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, losing 115-104 to the New York Knicks after leading by 22 points with under 8 minutes remaining.
- Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson attributed part of the loss to luck, citing the Knicks hitting difficult shots and clutch 3-pointers in the final minutes and overtime.
- The Cavaliers' defense faltered, particularly against Jalen Brunson, who led a 30-8 Knicks run late in the game, while Cleveland's offense became stagnant and inefficient during the critical stretch.
- Atkinson acknowledged fatigue and poor ball movement contributed to the collapse but remained proud of the team's overall performance through three quarters.
- The Cavaliers face pressure to rebound in Game 2, as such a significant loss could have lasting psychological effects similar to the Knicks' previous playoff collapse.