Coming into their game on Saturday at the New York Knicks, it was difficult to know what to expect for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland had anything but an encouraging last back-to-back versus the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday and Thursday, and the team was set to play its third game in four days following Thursday’s blowout L to Atlanta.
It’s been understandable, frankly, given how injuries have taken their toll, and the team defensively having been without Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley of late and Dean Wade hasn’t helped. The Mavs and Hawks had their way in the past two games, and as games have progressed, it’s been difficult for the Cavaliers to have stretches of quality play for four quarters in recent weeks, overall.
The Cavs heading into this last Knicks game did have an opportunity to get somewhat back on track, though, and they had a great effort in this last one.
The Cavaliers and Knicks went back and forth for much of the first half, and while the Knicks are eliminated from postseason play, they’re a tough-minded squad that have had injuries themselves, and it was going to be a close game, I’d have thought.
Oddly, Julius Randle not being in this last one might’ve actually been better for the Knicks, too, heading in, with how this season has been for him, and his antics of late haven’t helped things. Derrick Rose being out for an extended period, of course, hasn’t helped New York, either, and they’ve been up-and-down with Alec Burks manning the lead guard duties since Kemba Walker hasn’t been essentially active with the team since February.
Anyway, for the Cavs, they had quality efforts in this contest at the Knicks, and the team was able to get a much-needed W to help generate some confidence.
With that in mind, we’ll get into our stud and dud for Cleveland in this last convincing 119-101 win here.
The Cavs had a few potential candidates for the stud at the Knicks, but one player was the clear standout. The dud wasn’t that way, conversely.
As is customary, we’ll start with the Cavaliers stud from this win over the Knicks on Saturday afternoon.