Cavaliers’ Fourth-Quarter Collapse Costs Them Crucial Christmas Game Against Knicks

The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a tough 126-124 loss to the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. The game slipped away in a disastrous final period. This collapse happened despite the Cavaliers holding a commanding 17-point lead earlier in the game.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged the disappointment. He also pointed to positive signs emerging for his roster. His comments followed a familiar pattern of late-game struggles for the team this season.

Atkinson Sees Progress Despite Familiar Failing

The Cavaliers entered the fourth quarter with a 96-84 advantage. Their offense then went cold, shooting just 34 percent. The Knicks capitalized, shooting 55 percent to outscore Cleveland 42-28 in the quarter.

Donovan Mitchell carried the offensive load late, scoring 15 of his team-high 34 points in the fourth. It was not enough to overcome the team’s collective slump. According to ESPN, this loss highlighted a recurring issue of closing out games.

Rotation Returns Provide a Silver Lining

Coach Atkinson focused on the return of key players. Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley are back in the rotation. He believes this stability is crucial for the team finding its rhythm again.

“I think when you start getting rotation players back, it feels different,” Atkinson stated. He told reporters he felt “encouraged” by many aspects of the performance. The coach expressed strong confidence in the group moving forward.

The Cavaliers showed flashes of their prior form in recent games. A sharp shooting night against New Orleans offered hope. However, the inability to execute in clutch moments remains a significant hurdle.

This latest Cavaliers fourth-quarter collapse underscores a critical flaw they must fix. While player returns offer optimism, translating strong starts into wins is now the urgent task. The team’s playoff seeding may depend on solving this persistent issue.

Thought you’d like to know

What was the final score of the Cavaliers vs. Knicks Christmas game?

The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124. The game was decided by the Knicks’ strong fourth-quarter comeback.

How big was the Cavaliers’ lead before they lost?

The Cavaliers led by as many as 17 points during the game. They also held a 12-point advantage, 96-84, heading into the final quarter.

Who was the leading scorer for the Cavaliers?

Guard Donovan Mitchell led all Cavaliers scorers with 34 points. He scored 15 of those points in the team’s struggling fourth quarter.

Why is Coach Atkinson encouraged after a loss?

Atkinson cited the return of key players like Evan Mobley to the rotation. He believes the team is starting to regain its stability and rhythm after a period of lineup inconsistency.

What has been a major problem for the Cavaliers this season?

Finishing games strong has been a recurring issue. The Christmas loss marks another example of a significant late-game offensive drop-off leading to a defeat.