Cavs playoff replay: Darius Garland, stingy defense lead Cavaliers past Knicks
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers were punched in the mouth this past weekend. They let the world know Tuesday night they had what it takes to counter in a high-stakes environment.
Led by Darius Garland, the Cavs punched back big time, routing the Knicks 107-90 Tuesday to even the first-round NBA playoff series 1-1.
Coming off a 101-97 loss in Game 1 on Saturday night, the Cavs needed the big performance to avoid heading to New York down 2-0. Now, they look to reclaim homecourt advantage when Game 3 tips off Friday night at Madison Square Garden, as the Cavs continue their first playoff series since 2018 and first without LeBron James since 1998.
Darius Garland leads the way: Why Cavs star Darius Garland had 'different look in his eye' for Game 2 blowout vs. Knicks
Caris LeVert steps up: Caris LeVert is the Cavs' 'X factor' off the bench in playoffs
Here's how Game 2 unfolded throughout Tuesday night with out live updates and analysis.
Cavs even series with Knicks with 107-90 win in Game 2
End fourth: The series is tied heading into Game 3. The Cavs cruised in this one for the entirety of the second half.
Darius Garland finished with a game-high 32 points. Caris LeVert had 24 points in 40 minutes. Donovan Mitchell had 17 points and 13 assists.
Julius Randle led the Knicks with 22 points on 8-of-20 shooting. Jalen Brunson finished with 20 points.
And for the first time this season when the Cavs played the Knicks in either the playoffs or the regular season, Cleveland won the rebounding battle 43-36.
Donovan Mitchell and Cavs vs. Knicks: All-Star guard became 'Spida' as a New York phenom. Now he's leading Cavaliers in the NBA playoffs against hometown team
Cavs even playoff series with a rout: Darius Garland leads aggressive Cavs to Game 2 rout vs. Knicks, 1-1 tie in playoff series
Julius Randle fouled, lands awkwardly
2:22 fourth quarter: With the game well in hand, Julius Randle was fouled on a fast break by Jarrett Allen and landed oddly near the base of the basket, appearing to grab his lower back. Randle was slow to get up, and then seemed to be angry with a few Cavs players and Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff as he walked off the floor. The foul was upgraded to a flagrant. Randle hit the free throw and then was taken out of the game.
5:45, fourth quarter: Game 1 between the Cavs and Knicks was a grinding, defensive-first game. This one is a shellacking. A Cedi Osman 3 just opened up the Cavs' lead to 99-70.
8:20, fourth quarter: Down 92-68, it looks like the Knicks have turned their attention toward Game 3, in New York, Friday night, as RJ Barrett is the only Knicks starter left on the floor.
Evan Mobley now has a double-double as well with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell has double-double, Cavs lead 82-60 after the third quarter
End third quarter: Donovan Mitchell has only 15 points tonight, but he's done so on an efficient 5-of-8 from the floor and already has 10 assists. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle have both gone ice cold after hot starts, and the New York offense hasn't had much firepower since midway through the first quarter. Those two have combined to go 11-for-35 from the floor.
Garland, LeVert leading Cavs over Knicks; Cleveland leads New York 79-58
2:10, second quarter: Caris LeVert, after a one-point performance in Game 1, has 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, and has opened up the Cavs' offense. Darius Garland, meanwhile, has a game-high 32 points, and the Cavs are cruising up 79-58. The Cavs' bench has doubled the scoring output from the Knicks' second unit, 22-11.
6:19 third quarter: The Cavs are winning many of the "intangible" stats tonight, including bench points (18-7), turnovers (9-15) and offensive rebounds (8-7).
8:00, third quarter: Caris LeVert is having a night, now with 13 points off the bench. Considering bench scoring has been an issue for the Cavs, it's a key development.
The Cavs are still cruising over the Knicks, now up 66-45.
Recap of Cavs vs. Knicks from Game 1: Cavaliers rally late but can't finish and fall to Knicks in Game 1 of their NBA playoff series
Darius Garland has 26 points, Cavs open up 20-point lead at halftime over Knicks
Halftime: Darius Garland has taken over. He has 26 points at the half, along with three assists, and the Cavs have a 59-39 lead over the Knicks, who have slowed down Donovan Mitchell but had no answer for Garland. Another way to say it: Garland trails the Knicks by himself by only 13 points.
And perhaps the most important stat of the night thus far after how Game 1 unfolded: the Cavs are winning the rebounding battle 21-20.
Looking at how the Cavs deploy minutes for the 3-point in the lineup, Isaac Okoro has played just three minutes, while Osman has played 11 and Green has played nine minutes.
Caris LeVert has 11 points. Green has made his only 3-point attempt and has two steals. Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks with 14 points, and Julius Randle has 12.
2:41, second quarter: The Cavs have had the kind of defensive energy that was absent in Game 1. After Darius Garland made a few free throws, giving him a game-high 22 points, the Cavs forced a an errant pass on the ensuing in-bounds, which turned into a Caris LeVert 3. The next time down the floor, a Donovan Mitchell steal led to a Darius Garland layup in transiton, which put the Cavs up 52-35.
Darius Garland has a game-high 19 points midway through the second quarter of Game 2
6:02, second quarter: Remember when Darius Garland had zero shot attempts midway through the first quarter? That feels like a long time ago. Garland has taken over this game, and now has a game-high 19 points, including 4-for-5 from 3-point range. The Cavs have opened up a 12-point lead, 38-26.
Darius Garland being the aggressor over Donovan Mitchell for the Cavs
9:00, second quarter: Donovan Mitchell has been quiet this far, with only four points and three shot attempts. Garland has shown the type of aggressiveness he talked about after Game 1, as he has a game-high 13 points as the Cavs lead the Knicks 30-24. Much of Garland's production has come the way of the free throw line, where he's 7-for-8.
Of course, the Knicks are also sending a great deal of defensive attention Mitchell's way.
10:14, second quarter: It would appear as so, after Evan Mobley drew contact but not a foul call, and Danny Green was then called for a foul at the other end, that J.B. Bickerstaff might be dangerously close to drawing a tech as he pleads his case.
Cavs lead Knicks 25-22 after first quarter of Game 2
End first: Darius Garland has the Cavs leading 25-22 after the first quarter. In the final minute, Garland's defensive effort on Quickley led to an ovation from the crowd and an errant pass that was stolen by Cedi Osman. Garland then found Caris LeVert in the final seconds for a go-ahead 3-pointer.
The Cavs' bench is also out-scoring the Knicks' 8-5. While it's a small margin and only after the first quarter, it's an element that was noted after Game 1 as a trend the Cavs needed to reverse.
48.8 seconds, first quarter: Cedi Osman provided an offensive lift in Game 1, but he's struggling early in Game 2. As the first quarter draws to a close, Osman is just 1-for-6 and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.
The Cavs are still having trouble with the small forward spot in their lineup.
Cavs struggling to slow down Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle in Game 2
Darius Garland hit in face by Obi Toppin
1:31, first quarter: The trend of Darius Garland being hit in the face seems to have continued into the playoffs. Knicks forward Obi Toppin, while guarding Cedi Osman, struck Garland in the face with his elbow, seemingly inadvertently. It was called a common foul, as it appeared as though Topping didn't see Garland.
Garland was down for a moment but appears to be fine.
Danny Green checks in for Cavs in Game 2
4:22, first quarter: In an interesting development, Danny Green has checked in for the Cavs late in the first quarter. Green didn't play in Game 1, but it was clearly possible that the Cavs' rotation could be shuffled after Isaac Okoro and Cedi Osman either struggled offensively (Okoro) or couldn't slow down Brunson (Osman).
J.B. Bickerstaff noted that the Cavs' rotation will continue to be dependent on how thigns develop and what the team needs each night.
After slow Game 1, Darius Garland finally gets on board halfway through first quarter of Game 2
6:17, first quarter: OK so it took 20 seconds after that update was posted for Garland to attempt, and make, his first two 3-pointers of the night on back-to-back possessions to cut the Knicks' lead to 13-12.
6:37, first quarter: One aspect that was discussed after Game 1: Darius Garland perhaps needing to be more aggressive on the offensive end. Nearly halfway through the first quarter, he hasn't attempted his first shot of the night. And two attempted alley-oops from Garland haven't been converted.
The Knicks lead early, 12-6.
7:23, first quarter: It's all Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson for the Knicks. Both have five points already, and the Knicks lead 10-4.
The Cavs didn't have much of an answer for that duo in Game 1 and Game 2 looks similar.
9:15, first quarter: The Knicks' offensive rebounds did the Cavs in during Game 1. New York's first offensive rebound tonight was equalized on a steal by Jarrett Allen, who then added a dunk at the other end off of a nice feed from Darius Garland.
Jalen Brunson is already proving to be a problem (again) for the Cavs, as he has five points and the Knicks lead 7-4.
Cavs eyeing top priority for Game 2: Cavaliers have yet to outrebound Knicks this season, but can Cleveland narrow gap enough to bounce back from Game 1?
Here is some pregame information:
Will the Knicks' Josh Hart play in Game 2 vs. Cavs?
On Tuesday morning, the Knicks upgraded guard Josh Hart from doubtful to questionable for Game 2. Then shortly before tipoff, the Knicks announced Hart is available to play.
Hart is dealing with a sprained left ankle.
In Game 1, Hart came off the bench and tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Evan Mobley Defensive Player of Year?: Cavs 21-year-old forward finishes third in voting for a major NBA award and should be in the running for years to come
Cavs vs. Knicks first-round NBA playoffs schedule
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, April 21, Cavaliers at Knicks, Madison Square Garden, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Cavaliers at Knicks, Madison Square Garden, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (time, channel TBA)*
Game 6: Friday, April 28, Cavaliers at Knicks, Madison Square Garden (time, channel TBA)*
Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (time, channel TBA)** if necessary
Cavs given 'wake-up call' by Knicks: Lesson of playoff physicality hits Cavaliers after Game 1 loss
How can I watch Game 2 of the Cavaliers vs. Knicks playoff series on TV?
Game 2 between the Cavs and Knicks will be televised on TNT and Bally Sports Ohio.
How can I listen to Cavs vs. the Knicks on the radio?
The game will air locally on 1100-AM (WTAM) and 100.7-FM (WMMS).
It will also be broadcast on these stations:
Akron - WAKR 1590 AM
Akron - WAKR 93.5 FM
Ashtabula - WZOO 102.5 FM
Canton - WHBC 1480 AM
Celina - WCSM 1350 AM
Celina - WCSM 96.7 FM
Cleveland - WTAM 1100 AM
Cleveland - WMMS 100.7 FM
Cleveland - WTAM 106.9 FM
Columbus - WJYD 107.1 FM
Dover / New Philadelphia - WJER 100.9 FM
Dover / New Philadelphia - WJER 1450 AM
Fostoria - WFOB 105.7 FM
Fostoria - WFOB 1430 AM
Lima - WIMA 1150 AM
Lorain / Elyria - WEOL 930 AM
Lorain / Elyria - WEOL 100.3 FM
Lorain - SPANISH - WNZN 89.1 FM
Mansfield - WRGM 1440 AM
Mansfield - WRGM 106.7 FM
Marietta - WMOA 1490 AM
Marietta - WMOA 101.3 FM
Norwalk - WLKR 95.3 FM
Painesville - WABQ 1460 AM
St Mary, WV - WJAW 630 AM
St Mary, WV - WJAW 92.9 FM
Painesville - WABQ 1460 AM
Sandusky - WLEC 1450 AM
Sandusky - WLEC 93.5 FM
Wooster - WQKT 104.5 FM
Youngstown - WNIO 1390 AM
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks live game score and updates
