**York Native**
Playing the second game of a back-to-back, the New York Knicks fell to the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 142-105 on Friday night.
**Here are some takeaways:**
– OG Anunoby made his long-awaited return to the Knicks’ lineup after missing three weeks with a foot injury. However, the team was still shorthanded, as Josh Hart missed his second straight game with a knee issue and Mitchell Robinson remained sidelined.
– Despite Anunoby’s return, the Knicks had no answer for the Cavaliers’ explosive offense. Cleveland shot a staggering 73% in the first quarter, building a double-digit lead early. Jalen Brunson, who picked up two quick fouls, tried to keep the Knicks afloat with 16 first-half points.
– The Cavaliers continued their dominance in the second quarter, hitting eight consecutive field goals to start the period. Donovan Mitchell, once a Knicks trade target, erupted for 17 of his 24 first-half points in the frame, helping Cleveland extend their lead to 27 by halftime.
– Karl-Anthony Towns found his rhythm in the second quarter, but the Knicks struggled to generate offense elsewhere. With Brunson on the bench after picking up his third foul, the team relied heavily on Towns and Brunson, who combined for 37 of New York’s 50 first-half points. The Knicks’ bench contributed just four points, while Cleveland’s reserves added 24.
– Mikal Bridges and Precious Achiuwa showed signs of life in the third quarter, but their efforts were too little, too late. The Knicks couldn’t string together the defensive stops they needed, trailing by 25 or more for most of the period.
– With the game out of reach, both teams emptied their benches in the fourth quarter. Delon Wright saw his third appearance since being acquired at the trade deadline, while rookie Pacome Dadiet scored five points in his first action since January 17.
– Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 27 points, Evan Mobley added 21 points on near-perfect shooting and grabbed eight rebounds, and the Cavaliers’ bench, led by D’Andre Hunter and New York-native Ty Jerome, combined for 35 points.
– For the Knicks, Anunoby logged 27 minutes in his return but finished with just five points. Brunson led the team with 26 points, Towns added 23, and Achiuwa pulled down 10 rebounds.
