The New York Knicks had been building some momentum over the past week, winning four straight games and looking increasingly comfortable. However, Wednesday night’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers offered a reminder that there is still plenty of work to be done.
New York fell 115-107 at Madison Square Garden, struggling to contain Cleveland’s offensive rhythm while allowing the Cavaliers to dictate the physical side of the game.
Coming off a dominant 117-85 victory over Milwaukee the night before, the Knicks had an opportunity to carry that momentum into another important Eastern Conference matchup. Instead, Cleveland exposed several areas that Brown and his coaching staff will need to address moving forward.
The biggest issue wasn’t necessarily one individual matchup or a poor shooting night. It was the Knicks’ inability to consistently win possessions.
Cleveland Exposed New York’s Defensive Weaknesses
The Cavaliers established their offensive rhythm early, using pick-and-roll opportunities and strong ball movement to create open looks around the perimeter. Having Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the floor together also presented problems for New York, forcing the Knicks to account for multiple bigs while trying to protect the paint.
Cleveland finished the first quarter with a 33-23 advantage, with all five starters contributing offensively. New York struggled to keep up with the movement, allowing the Cavaliers to find open shooters and attack gaps in the defense.
James Harden also found opportunities to get comfortable early, knocking down perimeter shots and creating problems in isolation situations.
Brown acknowledged after the game that the Knicks allowed Harden too much room to operate early.
“He had airspace on his early threes, which gave him confidence and got him going,” Brown said. “We got to get to his body and make him put the ball on the floor, which we didn’t do a good job of early on.”
That early confidence carried throughout the night, making Cleveland increasingly difficult to contain.
The defensive issues weren’t limited to perimeter shooting, either. New York struggled on the defensive glass and allowed Cleveland to generate additional opportunities through offensive rebounds.
The Knicks have shown considerable improvement defensively during their recent winning streak, making Wednesday’s performance a small reset in that department.
Towns and McBride give New York much-needed offensive spark
While the opening quarter belonged to Cleveland, New York found some answers in the second.
Karl-Anthony Towns continued to demonstrate why he is such an important piece of this offense, using his size and touch around the basket to create opportunities against Mobley. Whether attacking the lane or finding his spots in the midrange, Towns gave the Knicks a reliable option when the offense needed a bucket.
Miles McBride provided another major spark.
McBride knocked down three three-pointers in the second quarter, helping New York erase its early deficit and eventually take a brief lead. His ability to create offense without needing the ball for extended periods has become increasingly valuable for Brown.
The two continued to carry much of the offensive responsibility as New York worked its way back into the game.
Towns finished with another double-double, extending his streak to 11 consecutive games and tying Willis Reed’s franchise record for consecutive double-doubles.
McBride’s continued production also raises an interesting question about the Knicks’ rotation. With Landry Shamet playing well alongside him, Brown has two guards providing meaningful contributions on both ends of the floor.
Their performances are making it increasingly difficult to overlook the impact they’re having.
The possession battle ultimately decides the game
Despite trailing for much of the night, New York continued to find ways back into the game.
The Knicks tied the contest at 99 with 5:35 remaining after putting together an 11-2 run, creating another opportunity to take control late.
But Cleveland responded, and New York struggled to get the defensive stops necessary to complete the comeback.
The Cavaliers continued to capitalize on second-chance opportunities and found ways to get to the free-throw line, creating a significant advantage in the possession battle.
Brown made that distinction clear following the loss.
“Good game by Cleveland, and I say that because they won the possession game,” Brown said. “They had 14 more free throw attempts than us, four more offensive rebounds than us and two less turnovers. And when that happens, versus a good team, it’s going to be hard to win the game.”
The free-throw disparity was particularly noticeable. Cleveland attempted 18 more free throws than New York at one point, while Jalen Brunson finished the night without attempting a single free throw despite playing nearly 35 minutes.
Brown admitted that the discrepancy was surprising, although he was quick to acknowledge that it wasn’t the only reason New York lost.
The Knicks also struggled to protect the ball in transition and gave Cleveland opportunities to create easy offense before their defense could get organized.
These are the types of possessions that can determine the outcome against quality opponents, particularly when the game is close late.
Brown’s rotation decisions are becoming another storyline
Another takeaway from Wednesday’s loss was the continued development of Brown’s rotation.
Mikal Bridges saw his playing time reduced, particularly in the fourth quarter, while McBride and Shamet continued to earn opportunities.
Brown explained that the production of those two guards has made it increasingly difficult to find minutes for everyone.
“They’re playing at a pretty high level and not just on the offensive floor, but defensively too,” Brown said.
Still, Brown wasn’t ready to make any major changes to the starting lineup, pointing to Bridges’ established track record and the relatively early stage of the season.
It’s an interesting situation for New York. Bridges remains an important part of the team’s plans, but McBride and Shamet are giving Brown legitimate reasons to reconsider how he distributes minutes.
The challenge will be finding a balance between rewarding the players currently producing and maintaining the roles of established starters.
What the Knicks need to take away
Wednesday’s loss shouldn’t overshadow the progress New York has made during its recent winning streak. However, it does highlight some areas that still need attention.
The Knicks need to be more consistent defensively, particularly when opponents use ball movement and pick-and-roll actions to create open perimeter opportunities.
Offensively, Brown acknowledged that the team still isn’t operating with the consistency and purpose he ultimately wants.
“At times, yes, but we’re not always in a good flow right now,” Brown said. “Which is fine, because there are other ways to win the basketball game while we’re trying to work on that.”
That’s an important part of where this team currently stands. New York has shown it can win games in different ways, but relying on individual offensive performances and late-game rallies won’t always be enough against stronger opponents.
The Knicks will have an immediate opportunity to respond as they face Indiana Pacers in a NBA Cup Matchup on Friday
