Knicks fail another test against NBA heavyweight in embarrassing loss to Cavaliers
NY Post
CLEVELAND — The Knicks arrived and left Cleveland with the same problem: Their defense is atrocious against the NBA’s best.
Tom Thibodeau’s group was massacred Friday night by Kenny Atkinson’s high-octane Cavaliers, who made the Knicks look jayvee in a 142-105 laugher.
“You can’t explain it,” Jalen Brunson said. “I’m at a loss for words really.”
The defeat dropped the Knicks to 0-6 this season against the league’s top three teams — the Cavs, Thunder and Celtics — while casting further doubt on their ability to compete with those teams, let alone beat them, in a playoff series.
The problem was familiar and easy to spot: the defense. Donovan Mitchell, the former Knicks trade target, dissected New York’s soft shell while dropping 27 points in just 26 minutes on 10-of-15 shooting.
The Cavaliers shot 61 percent overall and 51 percent on 37 3-point attempts, scoring 41 in the opening quarter and building a 27-point advantage at halftime.
The offseason signing of Vladislav Gavrikov became exponentially more important for the Rangers when Adam Fox was ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.
After leaving practice early on Monday to be evaluated for a lower-body injury, Adam Edstrom did not suit up Tuesday night against the Stars.
It’s not you, it’s me.
Not everyone wants to wake up in the city that never sleeps.
BOSTON — Despite no traction on a contract extension, Karl-Anthony Towns said his relationship with the Knicks front office remains strong and he hopes to continue his career with the team.
The Jets won a game on Sunday, an entertaining 27-24 victory over the Falcons on a 56-yard walk-off field goal by 41-year-old kicker Nick Folk.
Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss said he was just doing his job after a hard hit on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart sparked tension in Monday’s game at Gillette Stadium.
Dillon Brooks found himself in a familiar place Monday night — right underneath LeBron James’ skin.
Alexey Toropchenko is the latest hockey player to miss time because of a bizarre off-ice injury, after the St. Louis Blues said he is considered week to week after sustaining burns to his legs as part of a home accident. No other details were provided.
For a rebuilding Nets team, this season isn’t just about tanking for tomorrow’s lottery pick, but also developing the young players they have today.
After losing one of the top power-play defensemen in the NHL for at least the next several weeks, the Rangers are going to try something unconventional to spark their inconsistent season.
The Mets agreed to terms with Devin Williams, which means they now have exactly one viable right-handed reliever on their roster.