Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell: ‘Nothing’s won in the first 10 games’

The Cavs know they needed to be better against the Knicks. Donovan Mitchell also knows there’s a difference between a disappointing November night and a season slipping away.

“No excuse. These are games that we feel like we should win,” Mitchell told reporters after Saturday’s 109-97 home loss. “We got another tough stretch coming up so there’s no reason to sit here and feel bad and nothing’s won in the first 10 games.”

The Cavs are 5-5 after splitting a demanding back-to-back against the Sixers and Knicks. They played Saturday without Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson, while the Knicks had been off since Wednesday.

As covered in our postgame Dribbles, those circumstances deserve consideration. So does a 26-8 deficit in second-chance points.

“I think we just gave them too many second-chance opportunities,” Mitchell said. “Then it’s too late, you’re down 20 trying to fight back, but it’s too late.”

Mitchell scored 37 points, including 21 in the fourth. The help around him was limited.

Kenny Atkinson credited the Knicks’ ability to adjust, but liked that the Cavs kept competing.

“We could have folded down 18, could have packed it in on a back-to-back, tough week, but we kept at it,” Atkinson said.

Peyton Watson offered a useful assessment of the gap Saturday.

“Got to bring your A game and we just didn’t do that tonight,” Watson said.