Game Recap 10/31/23 | Cavaliers Lose to Knicks 109-91

Post-Game Recap

3 Things Around The Game

1 – Injuries mount

In tonight’s game against the New York Knicks, there was no Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, or Caris LeVert.  The injuries played a significant factor in the 18-point blowout against the Knicks.  

The Cavs are off to a slow start at 1-3, but the injuries are the biggest reason why. 

2 – Mobley 

The one concern that came out of the game was the offensive performance by Evan Mobley, who was only able to muster six points against the Knicks with a -19 plus/minus. 

It has been a slow start for Mobley as outside of his 33-point performance against Indiana, it has been 10, 14, and 6 for the Cavs’ young superstar.

3 – Youth movement

With the injuries, Emoni Bates, Craig Porter, and Sam Merrill all played significant minutes on Tuesday, combining for 25 of the 91 points for the Cavs. 

Game Summary

In Tuesday night’s game, Julius Randle contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson also scored 19 points, leading the New York Knicks to a convincing 109-91 victory over the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks controlled the game from the second quarter onwards and didn’t trail for the remaining three quarters.

Immanuel Quickley came off the bench to add 18 points, and RJ Barrett chipped in with 16 points, helping the Knicks secure the first game of a home-and-home series. This matchup marked their first meeting since New York eliminated Cleveland in a five-game series during the 2023 playoffs.

New York native Donovan Mitchell had a strong performance, putting up 26 points in just 29 minutes of play. On the Cavaliers’ side, Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang each contributed 11 points, but they were unable to overcome their three-game losing streak and a 0-3 home record. The Cavaliers have struggled against the Knicks, holding a 2-8 record against them since the beginning of the previous season.

Mitchell, who leads the team in scoring with an average of 32.0 points and 4.7 assists per game, made his return after missing the previous game due to a sore right hamstring. He sustained the injury during a home loss to Oklahoma City.

The Cavaliers faced challenges with multiple injuries, including Darius Garland, who missed his third consecutive game with a left hamstring strain, and Jarrett Allen, who had yet to play due to a left ankle bone bruise. Caris LeVert, a key reserve, was also unavailable after injuring his left hamstring in a previous game, and backup point guard Ty Jerome was sidelined with a right ankle sprain.

Cleveland’s coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, expressed hope for Allen’s return in the near future.

Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 13 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, while Mitchell Robinson added eight points and seven boards in the frontcourt.

On the Cavaliers’ side, undrafted rookie Craig Porter managed to score 10 points, and Evan Mobley had an all-around performance with six points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.

Up Next

At New York Knicks Wednesday, November 1st, 7:30 PM