Story by
Cavs score, recap vs Knicks | Cavaliers crush New York in beatdown of No. 3 team in East
- Story by
- Cavs score, recap vs Knicks | Cavaliers crush New York in beatdown of No. 3 team in East
CLEVELAND — The Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers returned home after the NBA All-Star break for a marquee, nationally televised game against the New York Knicks Friday night.
It couldn't have gone much better for Cleveland, which won handily 142-105.
Advertisement
It was the most lopsided win over the Knicks in Cavs history.
And although the Cavs (45-10) were back in Cleveland coming off a win at Brooklyn , they were playing in a venue with a new name, as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was renamed Rocket Arena this week . The Knicks (37-18) entered Friday holding the No. 3 seed in the East as they try to chase down the defending champion Boston Celtics for playoff seeding.
Tipoff for Cavs versus Knicks occurred at 7:14 p.m. Here's how the game unfolded.
Cavs beat Knicks
The Cavs have beaten the Knicks 142-105.
Donovan Mitchell finished with a game-high 27 points and five assists. Evan Mobley had 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Ty Jerome and De'Andre Hunter had 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Advertisement
Cavs lead Knicks by nearly 40 in fourth quarter
Craig Porter Jr. is having a nice night in garbage time with 10 points, including two 3s and a nice layup that followed some nifty dribbling.
The Cavs are up 136-98 and heading to one of their most impressive wins of the season.
Cavs, Knicks score: Cavaliers cruising, up 31 over Knicks
This one is over. The Cavs will take a 110-79 lead into the fourth quarter. The starters might already be done for the night.
This has been a shellacking, or perhaps a throttling, over the No. 3 team in the East.
Jarrett Allen injury update: Cavs center ruled out with hand injury
The Cavs have announced that center Jarrett Allen is out for the remainder of tonight's game with a right hand injury. According to an update from the team, X-Rays were negative. Allen had 10 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes before leaving the game with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
Feb 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) goes for a rebound against Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs lead Knicks 100-70 with 4:01 left in the third quarter
A Max Strus breakaway dunk with no one near him sent the Knicks into a timeout as they trailed 100-70 with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Advertisement
This is a beating. The Cavs need to finish the job.
Feb 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) and New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa (5) go for a rebound during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell dives into courtside seats with the Cavs ahead by 30 points
Do you think the Cavs want to beat the Knicks, who knocked them out the playoffs two years ago?
With the Cavs leading 92-62, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell tried to steal a pass and went diving into courtside seats.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson probably appreciates the hustle but also would rather not see his best player risking his body to that degree in a regular-season blowout. Especially on a night when All-Star point guard Darius Garland experienced an injury scare (see more below).
Feb 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) fouls New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Darius Garland starts the second half after his face hit the floor, and the Cavs lead the Knicks 84-58 with 7:53 left in the third quarter
This is should give the Cavs some relief: Garland started the second half after hitting his face hard on the floor with 4:11 remaining in the second quarter. Garland checked back into the game with 2:26 left, but there's always a chance a banged-up player in this situation would sit out after halftime.
Advertisement
The Cavs led the Knicks 84-58 during a Cleveland timeout with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
Cavs crushing Knicks at halftime
The Cavaliers are being treated to a standing ovation as they walk off the floor to end the first half.
The Cavs torched the Knicks through the first two quarters, putting up 77 points and taking a 77-50 lead into halftime.
Donovan Mitchell hit back-to-back 3s in the final minute. He's up to 24 points and five assists. Evan Mobley has 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. De'Andre Hunter has 10 points, including an off-balance 3 from the corner.
For the Knicks, it's been all Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns . Brunson has 16 points and three assists, though after scoring the first seven points of the game for New York, he's been a bit quiet.
Advertisement
Towns has been terrific via 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting. But outside of those two, the Knicks haven't had nearly enough scoring firepower to keep up with the Cavs, who are firing on all cylinders.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) celebrates after making a 3-pointer as New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks on Feb. 21, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Darius Garland hits face hard on floor; Cavs vs Knicks updates
As Darius Garland was driving to the hoop, he drew some contact and hit his face very hard on the court as he came down. Garland was tended to by the team's medical staff while players crowd around him.
Garland appeared to be in serious pain. The arena was virtually silent for a few moments.
After a few minutes, Garland got up and walked to the bench under his own power.
Advertisement
Amazingly, Garland stayed in the game to shoot two free throws (he made one) and then checked out with 4:11 left in the second quarter. Knicks players were also checking on him.
It appeared as though Garland didn't want to leave the floor. He checked back into the game with 2:26 left before halftime.
Cavaliers, Knicks score: Cavs build 20-point lead
The first game in this building under the new name, Rocket Arena, almost couldn't have gone any better to this point for Cleveland, as the Cavs are dominating the Knicks, 63-43, with 4:23 to go. A Max Strus steal just led to an Isaac Okoro layup, and the Cavs are putting all of the pressure onto New York right now.
Advertisement
Dean Wade returns from injury, checks into game
Dean Wade is back on the floor, and the Cavs are cruising, now up 59-43 with 6:44 left in the second quarter.
Wade has yet to get involved in the Cavs' offense.
See Donovan Mitchell's circus layup that led to a 2-and-1 vs Knicks; Watch the video
As the Cavs continue to pile on the Knicks, Donovan Mitchell drove to the hoop and through contact was able to tap the ball off the glass for a 2-and-1 layup, which included almost a windmill motion as he was fouled.
The Cavs are now up 55-36 with 8:21 to go. Mitchell has 13 points and four assists.
Cavs, Knicks score: Evan Mobley taking over as Cleveland builds to lead
Evan Mobley is having a dynamic first half. He just buried a 3-pointer, and the Cavs have built a 46-34 lead early in the second quarter. He's up to 13 points, two rebounds and two assists tonight, including several dunks.
Feb 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavs lead Knicks 41-29 at the end of the first quarter
The Cavs led the Knicks 41-29 at the end of the first quarter after Cleveland wing De'Andre Hunter and New York guard Jalen Brunson traded 3-pointers in the final seconds of the opening quarter.
Advertisement
With 5.6 seconds left, Hunter made a corner 3 on an assist from guard Donovan Mitchell as a defender closed out on Hunter. Brunson then countered with a 3 of his own at the buzzer.
Brunson had a game-high 16 points through one quarter. Cavs forward Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 10 first-quarter points.
Cleveland Cavaliers lead New York Knicks 28-18 with 2:58 left in the first quarter
The Cavs led the Knicks 28-18 during a Cleveland timeout with 2:58 remaining in the opening quarter.
Center Jarrett Allen has been attacking the hoop on offense, and he has a team-high eight points at this early juncture. Allen is 4-of-5 shooting from the field, and the Cavs are 12-of-18 shooting from the floor (66.7%).
Advertisement
Brunson leads the Knicks with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, but they're 8-of-21 shooting from the floor (38.1%) as a team.
Feb 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs come out of the gate dunking and lead Knicks 10-7 with 8:13 left in the first quarter
The Cavaliers countered the hot start of Brunson by dunking all over New York's defense.
Allen and Mobley had two dunks apiece, accounting for the Cavs' first eight points. A long jump shot by guard Donovan Mitchell gave the Cavs a 10-7 lead, and the Knicks called timeout with 8:13 remaining in the opening quarter.
Brunson started the game 3-of-3 shooting from the field and scored New York's first seven points.
Advertisement
Here is some pregame information :
Cavs injury report vs. Knicks
After the Cavs defeated the Nets 110-97 on Thursday and again before Friday's game, Atkinson said forward Dean Wade would return from a right knee bone bruise and face the Knicks. Wade missed 11 consecutive games and hasn't played since Jan. 24. He is officially active after being listed as probable to play against the Knicks.
On Thursday, small forward Isaac Okoro returned from a 14-game absence caused a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. He had five points, one rebound and one assist in 17 minutes against the Nets.
Feb 15, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) competes in the three-point contest during All Star Saturday Night ahead of the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Knicks injury report vs. Cavs
Knicks forward OG Anunoby is questionable with a sprained foot. ESPN reported Anunoby will play against the Cavs. The Knicks have ruled out guard Josh Hart (knee) and center Mitchell Robinson (ankle).
Advertisement
Javonte Green reportedly to sign with Cavs after buyout from Pelicans
The Cavs are expected to sign wing Javonte Green once he clears waivers following his buyout from the New Orleans Pelicans . The Cavs also added Nae'Qwan Tomlin to the roster .
And prior to the NBA trade deadline, the Cavs made a key move by trading for De'Andre Hunter .
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Cavs, Knicks game?
Friday's game can be watched nationally on ESPN and locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score vs New York Knicks recap, highlights
