Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley said the Cavs didn’t play with the grit and the urgency they needed in a 102-93 loss to the New York Knicks during a postgame press conference on Sunday.
“I feel like we just didn’t really play with the grit we needed to play with and the urgency we needed to play with all the way through down the stretch,” Mobley said, via Bally Sports Ohio. “I feel like we turned the ball over early, and that got them going.
“We just have to protect the ball a little more and make better plays.”
Evan Mobley ended the night with 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocked shots and six fouls in 35 minutes of play. Though he shot an efficient 62.5% from the field, he and center Jarrett Allen combined for 11 points in a must-win matchup for a Cavaliers team that fell to a 3-1 deficit following Sunday’s loss.
Cleveland would finish the night with 33 total rebounds, a 14-board difference from New York’s 47 total rebounds. Cavs guard Caris LeVert led the team with nine boards. The Knicks also took the lead on the offensive boards, finishing with 17 compared to Cleveland’s seven.
Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell ended the night with 11 points and a 27.8% shooting percentage. He took accountability for his Game 4 Cavs performance in a Sunday press conference. Guard Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 23 points, while Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and forward RJ Barrett spearheaded New York’s offense with 29 and 26 points, respectively.
The Cavaliers were able to fight back and eventually secure a slight lead in the third quarter, but couldn’t stop a late surge from New York that ultimately gave the Knicks a lead they would never relinquish.
The Cavs will tip off against the Knicks at 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcasted on NBA TV and Bally Sports Ohio.