Cavaliers vs Knicks NBA playoff replay: Cavs season comes to an end with Game 5 loss
CLEVELAND — Must-win game. Do or die. Win or go home.
Regardless of which phrase is used, everyone knew what was at stake Wednesday night for the Cavaliers at home in Game 5 against the New York Knicks.
The Cavs, though, were unable to extend their season. The Knicks won 106-95 to win the best-of-seven series 4-1. Cleveland's season ends in disappointing fashion with a first-round NBA playoff exit, just five games into their first playoff appearance since 2018 and first without LeBron James since 1998. It was not the end the Cavs expected after a 51-31 in the regular season earned them the Eastern Conference's fourth seed and home-court advantage.
Meanwhile, New York advances to play top-seeded Milwaukee or eighth-seeded Miami in the second round. The Knicks are the fifth seed after their 47-35 regular season.
Here's how Game 5 unfolded through our updates and analysis:
Cavs fall to Knicks 106-95 in Game 5, lose series to New York 4-1
End fourth: The Cavs' season is over. They have dropped the first-round series to the Knicks 4-1 with a106-95 loss in Game 5.
The Cavs were dominated on the defensive glass, as the Knicks grabbed offensive rebounds nearly at will in the fourth quarter, which helped to protect their double-digit lead.
It was the story of the series. And with that, the Cavs are heading home early.
Cavs replay: Cleveland drops Game 4 to New York Knicks and trails in first-round NBA playoffs series 3-1
Darius Garland fouls out of Game 5
1:22, fourth quarter: Darius Garland has fouled out of Game 5. He received an ovation as he walked to the bench.
2:45, fourth quarter: It is perhaps fitting that back-to-back offensive rebounds will go down as the likely daggers to the Cavs' playoff hopes.
Mitchell Robinson, on back-to-back possessions, got put-backs to go, and the Knicks now lead 100-88 with under three minutes remaining.
The Knicks have 15 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points.
4:24, fourth quarter: The Cavs' backs are now super-glued to the wall.
They trail the Knicks 96-84 with only 4:24 left, and with New York having possession. The Knicks' offensive rebounding, which not only has led to 16 second-chance points, but has taken away valuable time off the clock, has just about ended the Cavs' hopes.
6:13, fourth quarter: Another offensive rebound for the Knicks, another second-chance basket.
The Cavs couldn't corral a rebound, leading to a jump-ball between Mitchell Robinson and Darius Garland. Robinson won the jump-ball and then later converted an easy alley-oop dunk to extend the Knicks' lead to 96-84.
As Robinson and Garland fought for the ball on the rebound, Robinson rolled over. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff is giving any ref who will listen an ear-full, arguing his case.
Darius Garland commits fifth foul, has back-to-back baskets to cut Knicks lead to 6
8:00, fourth quarter: Darius Garland will have to be careful for the rest of the game. An offensive foul committed on a screen is his fifth of the night.
Garland then got a layup to fall in transition and added a jumper to slice the Knicks' lead to 90-84.
9:39, fourth quarter: Darius Garland has cut the deficit to eight points, 88-80, with a 3-pointer from several feet behind the 3-point line. He has 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
R.J. Barrett has been a major factor for the Knicks tonight with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting.
Cavs trail Knicks 87-75 heading into the fourth quarter of Game 5
End third: It's do or die time for the Cavs, trailing 3-1 in the series and by 12 points in Game 5 heading into the fourth quarter.
Donovan Mitchell hit a difficult 3-pointer and then added two free throws to give him 18 points. That momentarily cut the Knicks' lead to 10 before Jalen Brunson drove through the lane and got a layup to fall. Brunson has been largely quiet as of late, but still leads all scorers with 21 points.
Darius Garland, with just 10 points, was on the bench for the last few minutes of the third quarter. The Cavs haven't been closer than nine points in the second half.
Knicks extend lead to 81-65 lead in the third quarter
4:05, third quarter: And just like that, the momentum has again shifted New York's way.
New York is on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 81-65. Obi Toppin, who has scoreless in the first half, has a 12-point third quarter, including a dunk off of a nice bounce-pass from Jalen Brunson in transition.
6:22, third quarter: The Cavs are again showing some life. Darius Garland hit a fadeaway jumper and Caris LeVert followed with a 3 to cut the Knicks' lead to 74-63.
Donovan Mitchell is 6-15 from the floor and 0-3 from 3-point range.
Donovan Mitchell struggling from the floor, slow to get up after a play
10:15, third quarter: Donovan Mitchell just can't get anything to fall. He missed a jumper and then a floater on back-to-back possessions, and the frustration is clearly setting in.
At the other end, Mitchell got tangled up going for a loose ball and was slow to get up. He appears to be fine and is staying in the game.
Meanwhile, Obi Toppin replaced Julius Randle and has scored the Knicks' first seven points of the quarter.
Julius Randle doubtful to return in Game 5 against Cavs
and12:00, third quarter: Just before the beginning of the third quarter, the Knicks announced that Julius Randle is doubtful to return with an ankle injury.
Knicks lead Cavs 61-51 at halftime of Game 5; Julius Randle's status uncertain
End first half: The Cavs have cut it to 10. Now they have two quarters to close that gap and extend their playoff run at least a couple extra nights.
Thus far, it's been the same story as to why the Cavs trail the series 3-1: Cleveland can't stop Jalen Brunson, and they're being dominated on the glass. Brunson has a game-high 17 points, and the Knicks are out-rebounding the Cavs 22-14.
Though the big question with the Knicks is the status of Julius Randle, who appeared to re-injury the ankle that cost him the last five games of the regular season.
Donovan Mitchell has 11 points on 5-12 shooting, and Darius Garland has just six points. It's almost a certainty that one, or both, will have to get hot if the Cavs have a chance to chase down the Knicks.
Julius Randle appears to injury ankle late in second quarter, limps off floor and into locker room
1:17, second quarter: The Knicks might have been delivered a tough blow, as Julius Randle went down while holding his left ankle. Randle missed the last five games of the regular season with a sprained left ankle.
He walked off the floor with a noticeable limp and headed to the locker room.
On that play, Caris LeVert hit a 3 to follow Donovan Mitchell's 3 on the prior possession to cut the Knicks' lead to 59-49.
2:16, second quarter: The Cavs are having trouble eating into the Knicks' lead, and they're going to run out of time quickly.
The Knicks continue to force the issue, and the Cavs have had trouble keeping up. As they walked off the floor for this last timeout, there seems to be a level of frustration on Cleveland's bench.
The Knicks lead 57-43.
Knicks again dominating rebound battle over Cavs
6:00, second quarter: Once again, the Cavs were able to force Jalen Brunson into a miss, only for the Knicks to still come away with points. Brunson missed a jumper, but Mitchell Robinson tapped in a put-back to put the Knicks up 49-36.
Just before that, Okoro hit a 3. He's 4 for 4 from the floor for a team-high 10 points.
7:20, second quarter: Isaac Okoro came up with the exact play the Cavs need — he just couldn't hold onto the ball.
Okoro, in isolation with Jalen Brunson, stuck with him and forced a missed shot, which led to a standing ovation from the crowd. Except, Okoro couldn't hold onto the ball, and it remained the Knicks' possession. Quickley then drilled a 3-pointer, a deflating shot after Okoro was finally able to lock down Brunson.
The Cavs, in a win-or-go-home situation, trail 45-33.
8:00, second quarter: Offensive rebounds are still killing the Cavs.
The Knicks already have seven offensive rebounds, which had led to nine second-chance points. With that, the Knicks are maintaining a 42-31 lead. The Cavs have one offensive rebound, which didn't lead to a basket.
Even dating back to the regular season, the Cavs being out-muscled in the rebounding battle has been a recurring problem for Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland both struggling offensively as Knicks build double-digit lead
9:45, second quarter: The Cavs' deficit has grown to 11, partially due to both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland struggling from the floor. That duo is a combined 4-12 for eight points. And as this was being typed, Mitchell had another shot blocked.
The Cavs likely can't afford an off night from either of them, and especially not both.
Knicks lead the Cavs 33-26 after first quarter of Game 5
End first: Knicks 33, Cavs 26: The Cavs finished the first quarter on a run led by, of all players, Isaac Okoro, who hit a 3-pointer and then added a transition layup to cut into the Knicks' lead.
Jalen Brunson is still perfect on the offensive end with 12 points. The Cavs will have to find a way to slow Brunson down. Another troubling stat for the Cavs: they trail the rebounding battle 12-6.
Jalen Brunson starts Game 5 hot, Cavs trail Knicks 23-14
4:00, first quarter: The Cavs don't seem to have an answer for Cavs guard Jalen Brunson — again.
Brunson has been perfect on the offensive end so far, shooting 4 for 4 from the floor and scoring a game-high 10 points, as the Knicks have opened up a 23-14 lead.
Donovan Mitchell starts slow, but Caris LeVert picks up the slack as Cavs and Knicks are tied early
7:00, first quarter: The Cavs and Knicks are all tied up at 10-10. Prior to the game, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted the Cavs needed to come out fast, and that he expected Donovan Mitchell to lead them early on.
That hasn't been the case, as Mitchell has missed his first three shots and is still pointless. Caris LeVert, as he did in Game 2, has picked up that slack by hitting both of his 3-point attempts to tie it.
Here is some pregame information.
Game 5: How to watch Cavs vs. Knicks Game 5 amid local blackout restrictions
Will Caris LeVert start for the Cavaliers in Game 5 against the Knicks?
For the third consecutive game, Caris LeVert will start for the Cavs instead of Isaac Okoro, the team announced.
LeVert entered the series as the Cavs' sixth man and Okoro as Cleveland's starting small forward.
Will Quentin Grimes play for the Knicks in Game 5 vs. Cavs?
Knicks guard Quentin Grimes entered Wednesday listed as questionable to play because of a right shoulder contusion. Shortly before tipoff, the Knicks ruled out Grimes.
Cavs vs. Knicks first-round NBA playoffs schedule. What time is Game 5 in Cleveland?
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (7 p.m., NBA TV, Bally Sports Ohio)
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
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How can I watch Game 5 of Cavs vs. Knicks NBA playoff series on TV?
Game 5 between the Cavs and Knicks can be viewed on NBA TV and Bally Sports Ohio.
How can I listen to Cavs vs. the Knicks Game 5 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
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs season comes to an end with 106-95 loss vs. Knicks
