Donovan Mitchell did not sugarcoat it after a rough night in Cleveland. "We just did not make shots," he said following the Cavs' Game 3 loss on Saturday. The 121-108 defeat left New York one win from the NBA Finals and Cleveland scrambling for answers before Monday's Game 4.
Knicks Seize The Wheel With Balanced, Brutal Efficiency
The Knicks rolled past the Cavaliers 121-108 on Saturday, riding 30 points from Jalen Brunson and a steady supporting cast, according to NBC Sports. New York's efficiency from the field and in the fourth quarter kept Cleveland from mounting any real charge, while Donovan Mitchell (23 points) and James Harden (21 points) could not slow the tide.
Mitchell On Misses: 'We Created The Looks, We Missed Them'
Mitchell boiled the night down to the rim, refusing to cooperate. He said he liked the looks Cleveland was generating but that "some days you just miss the open ones" in his postgame comments. That exchange was captured on video and posted by The Columbus Dispatch. The remark echoed what teammates and coaches have been preaching about trusting the offensive process, even when the ball will not drop.
Numbers Back Up The Story Of Open Shots Gone Cold
Mitchell's point checks out on the stat sheet. In Game 2, the Cavs went 9-for-35 from three, including just 2-for-12 on shots classified as "open" and 6-for-19 on "wide open" attempts, per CBS Sports. Cleveland then finished 12-of-41 from deep in Saturday's loss, a cold stretch that swung possession margins and helped the Knicks build a decisive late lead, according to NBC Sports.
Fatigue, Process And A Series That Got Short In A Hurry
Beyond simple shooting variance, fatigue has become a real talking point after Cleveland's marathon playoff run. Analysts noted the Cavs looked "dead on their feet" following a second straight seven-game series, and Axios flagged exhaustion as one reason those open jumpers might be tougher to convert when the margin for error disappears.
Now the clock is ticking. Game 4 is Monday night at Rocket Arena, per the NBA's official postseason schedule, and the Cavs must avoid a 3-0 hole to keep their season alive. NBA.com lists Game 4 for Monday at 8 p.m., and whether Cleveland finally cashes in the open looks Mitchell highlighted will be the clearest sign of whether this series can tilt back toward the Cavs.
