Dribbles: Cavs show some muscle and necessary hustle, take down Knicks

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

1. You can talk about Donovan Mitchell‘s 23 points. Or James Harden‘s 20. Or another double-double from Jarrett Allen (19 points, 10 rebounds). And all those things matter.

2. But it was really the Cavs’ third-quarter defense that made the biggest difference. They allowed the Knicks just 11 measly points in those 12 minutes.

3. More specifically, the Knicks took 24 shots in the third quarter. They made three. You read that right — 3-of-24.

4. Some of it was just the Knicks missing shots. Some of it was the Cavs wearing them down. And by the time the Knicks got a shot, they were almost too tired to make it.

5. When it comes to that, it truly was a teamwide effort. Dean Wade. Allen. Evan Mobley. Sam Merrill. Keon Ellis. Jaylon Tyson. Dennis Schroder. Pick your defensive poison. 

6. Offensively, the Cavs (37-22) just have it going. Harden certainly helps in that area. This time, when the Knicks tried to get tough, the Cavs didn’t break.

7. Coach Kenny Atkinson: “Listen, bringing in James has given us a renewed confidence. We understand we’re a better team. That spirit, that confidence, as strange as it may sound, it makes you play harder. We were missing that.”

8. It’s hard to argue. The Cavs lost each of their first two games in New York (season-opener, Christmas Day). And who can forget the Christmas game, when the Knicks overcame a double-digit deficit, mostly by out-toughing the Cavs on the glass.

9. This time, though, the rebounding battle was even (44-all). Allen had his 10. Wade and Tyson grabbed eight apiece. Mobley had seven. Everyone made a concerted effort.

10. Holding your ground and getting some boards has been a point of emphasis. “We have to do a better job of winning our spot,” Atkinson said. “… I felt like we struggled with it in the playoffs last year. It’s been a theme of ours after the All-Star break.”

11. Another factor in the Cavs’ rise has been the rise of Allen. He said “probably” when asked if this recent stretch is the best of his career. “The numbers don’t lie … scoring, rebounding,” Allen said.

12. He too credited the addition of Harden. “He came in and just elevated my game,” Allen said.

13. The Cavs led by six at halftime, then turned on the defensive jets. They increased it to 20 and were never really threatened after that. Mobley and Tyson each scored 12. Wade added 11, including 3-of-5 shooting on threes. 

14. Not surprisingly, Atkinson had high praise for Wade. “He’s elite defensively,” he said. “He helps us on the rebounding part, which is one of our weaknesses. And when he makes threes, ya know, we’re gonna be tough to stop.”

15. The Knicks (also 37-22) received a team-high 20 points from Jalen Brunson, but he went just 6-of-19 from the field. The Cavs and Knicks are now tied for third in the Eastern Conference standings, with 23 games to go.

16. Mitchell suggested the best could be yet to come. “We’re had two practices (since acquiring Harden on Feb. 6),” he said. “We’re just going off the film. That’s a credit to the new guys, and a credit to the guys who have been here.”

17. Of course, this is the NBA, so there’s no time to gloat. The Cavs left for Milwaukee about an hour after this one ended. But if Tuesday is an indication, they are a team that is finding ways to beat you, and it doesn’t always have to be on the sexy side of the court. If it takes some grit and toughness, hey, maybe they can win that way, too.

BOX SCORE | Cavs 109, Knicks 94