‘Twas the best Christmas present a fan could ask for.
In today’s holiday matinee, the Cavaliers (17-15) blitzed the Knicks (21*-9) early with an 18–3 run behind Donovan Mitchell’s hot shooting and finished
the first quarter up 38–23. In Q2, New York flipped the game with bench energy and forced turnovers, riding a Jordan Clarkson–Tyler Kolek spark to a 60–58 halftime lead. Mitchell, Darious Garland, and Jaylon Tyson powered a Cavaliers surge that flipped the score and gave them a 96–84 lead. But in the final frame, the Knicks stormed thanks to Mitchell Robinson’s offensive rebounding, and timely shooting from Brunson, Clarkson, and Kolek. Down by 17, they rumbled and rallied all the way back to win it, 126–124.
Brunson led the Knicks with 34 on 10-for-25 shooting and 6-of-12 from deep. Clarkson (25) and Kolek (16) gave New York a major lift off the bench, combining to go 9-of-15 from three. Kolek dished nine dimes, hit 4-of-5 from deep, and was a team-high +23. Read all about it below.
The game swung on extra possessions and bench control. Mitchell Robinson pulled down 13 rebounds in just 17 minutes—eight on the offensive glass—while Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 boards and 11 points.
Mitchell led Cleveland with 34 points on 12-of-26 shooting, adding seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while Garland chipped in 20 points and four assists (plus four turnovers).
The only blemish on this one was Hart turning his ankle in the fourth. Otherwise, this was a bona fide Christmas classic. Cleveland shot 52% from the field and won the paint 56–40, leading for 74% of the night. The Knicks offset that with volume and accuracy from deep (21 threes at 48%), extra possessions (12 offensive rebounds), and stronger defensive impact (nine steals, four blocks). Merry Christmas? Indeed.
First Half
The Cavaliers jumped ahead 18-3 as the Knicks missed their first seven attempts from downtown. Spida made five of his first six shots and finished the quarter with 12 points. Meanwhile, Towns picked up two quick fouls and headed to the bench for Mitchell Robinson, who then committed two fouls of his own. Do the Knicks ever play well in matinees?
New York fought back behind Brunson, who netted 10 points in the period despite shooting 4-of-10. A flagrant foul whistled on Lonzo Ball at the 4:31 mark gave Brunson a four-point possession and briefly shifted momentum back in our favor.
Three-pointers from rookie Mohamed Diawara (taking over for Robinson) and veteran Jordan Clarkson trimmed the deficit, the Knicks closed on a 7-2 run, but still trailed 38-23 after one quarter.
Cleveland controlled the quarter by hitting 13-of-19 from the field, distributing the ball, turning the rock over just once, while New York shot 9-of-24 from the field and 3-of-12 from deep. Four turnovers, seven fouls, and uneven defense. Bah, humbug.
But then things were looking up! With Brunson resting, Cleveland turned the ball over thrice in the first minute, and Clarkson drilled two triples to spark a 24-to-5 run. The Ohio Players coughed up the ball three more times before the middle of the frame, and when Kolek turned his defensive rebound into a dime to a trailing Bridges for a bunny, the Knicks finally controlled the scoreboard.
Towns, oft maligned for his defensive efforts, played sticky-D at times. On one sequence, he stuck to Allen’s hip and worked the dribbler into an offensive foul, and when he scored on the subsequent possession, it came on another Kolek assist. Really nice bench contributions from Clarkson and Kolek, and, along with Towns, they were the only three Knicks with positive double-digit plus-minuses.
New York held Mitchell scoreless in the second, but Garland led a comeback to cut the Knicks’ lead to 60-58 at halftime. The Cavs had shot slightly better (56% FG and 50%), but the Knicks weren’t too shabby with 50% from the floor and 10-of-22 from deep. After they’d protected the ball so well in the first frame, Cleveland turned the ball over eight times in the second, which New York cashed in for 20 points. The Knicks had won the paint by four, and the teams were even on the glass (18) and assists (NY, 15-14).
Brunson led all scorers with 14, and Kolek already had six dimes. For Cleveland, Garland had 13. Here he tries to neuter Bridges:
Second Half
Mitchell and Garland combined for a 10-3 run out of intermission. After a timeout, the Knicks kicked back. An Anunoby charge call was overturned with a coach’s challenge, and thanks to a side-three by Hart, the game was an even 71 midway through the third.
Sam Merrill (who I constantly confuse with Sam Morril) got into the action for the Ohioans, trading buckets with Mitchell and taking assists from Garland. Those bums went on an 18-7 run. For a different look and to give Bridges a breather, Kolek subbed in to join Brunson in the backcourt around the six-minute mark. The sophomore hit a triple, but missed on two drives (very uncharacteristically).
Off Kenny Atkinson’s bench, Jaylon Tyson hurt the Knicks on both ends. He logged 11 points, a couple rebounds, and picked Brunson’s pocket. The role player also committed three fouls and got stuffed by Mitchell Robinson, so there.
With multiple Cavs contributing, they won the period 38-24 and took a 96-84 lead into the fourth.
The Cavs jumped out to a 17-point lead, but Clarkson got a bucket and Kolek swished a side-bomb to slice off five. Then, around the eight-minute mark, Hart turned his ankle on a drive. He shot two free throws, Brunson took a quick foul, and Josh limped back to the locker room. Sending prayers from the Binghamton contingent that he’s OK.
Perhaps the key sequence of the game started around the seven-minute mark:
- Clarkson misses from three. Robinson rebounds. Bridges misses from three. Mitch wrestles down another board, giving New York a third look at the rim. Brunson swishes a three. Knicks down by nine.
- Mere seconds later, Brunson misses a floater. Robinson grabs another 0ffensive board. This time, the rock finds its way to Kolek for a wide-open three.
- Mitchell scores a bucket. Who cares. On the other end, Kolek races the baseline, jukes, and hits Clarkson for the assisted-corner three.
- Garland misses. Robinson rebounds. Clarkson misses. Robinson rebounds. Now he finds Kolek for a 22-footer. Knicks down by three. Atkinson needs to discuss.
See the trend? New York misses a shot, Robinson rebounds, and Kolek makes good stuff happen.
The Knicks cut their deficit to one when Brunson hit a triple; and then again at the 2:30 mark when Kolek struck again from yard. Tell me this kid isn’t built for the bright lights of New York City. Soon after, Mitchell was on a breakaway, and Kolek chased him down, legally stripping the ball before Spida could dunk. Absolutely amazing run by the backup point guard we were ready to toss into a Giannis package not long ago.
Cleveland got the ball, but Kolek grabbed a Mitchell miss and sent that down to Bridges for an easy score. Knicks by one! Garland scored, but Brunson stepped into a triple for a two-point lead. After Mitchell and Anunoby swapped dunks, the former hit a long 28-footer to cut it to one with 2.7 seconds left. Kolek inbounded the ball to Towns, who drew the foul and split a pair at the line. Mitchell’s final heave at the buzzer missed, completing the biggest Knicks comeback of the year and putting a beautiful bow on the win.
Up Next
Down to Atlanta they go to face the Hawks on Saturday. Merry Christmas, Knickerbockers.
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
