Cavs lose 121-108 to Knicks, fall into 3-0 deficit in Eastern Conference finals

CLEVELAND — The New York Knicks left no doubt. They pounded the Cavaliers 121-108 Saturday in Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. Game 4 is Monday at Rocket Arena. New York can advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 with one more win. "We need to win one (game) for our pride," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. "And then we'll go from there." Cleveland once again had no answer for Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, who did whatever he wanted on the court despite intense pressure from the Cavs' defense. He finished with a game-high 30 points, three rebounds and six assists. The 6-foot-2 dynamo made 10 of 19 from the field and 7 of 8 from the foul line. "He's a MVP candidate," New York coach Mike Brown said. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said Game 3's loss was a "tough one." "No one is hanging their head," he said. "We're still together as a group. Let's get the next one and go from there. You never know what can happen." No team has come back from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs. Power forward Evan Mobley said the Cavs have their "backs against the wall." "We have to come together as a team and fight our way out," he said. Mobley finished with a team-high 24 points and six rebounds, while guard Donovan Mitchell added 23 points, four assists and three steals. Point guard James Harden finished with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. However, all three players had five turnovers, which continue to mount for Cleveland. "They were active and got in the gaps," Mitchell said of the Knicks. Cavs center Jarrett Allen added 17 points and seven rebounds, while swingman Max Strus contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists off the bench. The Knicks outrebounded Cleveland 37-34 and shot .558 from the field. The Cavs shot .500 from the floor, but just .293 from the 3-point line. New York has won 10 playoff games in a row. However, don't try to tell Brown that things have been easy. "This is hard," he said. "We're playing a team with four NBA All-Stars and a great coach in Kenny Atkinson. There is nothing easy about this." He said the team is peaking at the right time. Brown wants his team to play fast and run at every opportunity. Cleveland came off two grueling seven-game series in Toronto and Detroit and has been playing every other day. Mobley wouldn't say the Cavs were fatigued, but "it's definitely taken its toll." "There are no excuses now," he said. "We're in the Eastern Conference finals. We'll rest (today) and come back as ready as possible." Mitchell said the Cavs "did it to ourselves." They had a chance to wrap up the Detroit series in Game 6 but got waxed at home and had to play a seventh game. They also coughed up a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against New York. "If we win that game, it totally changes the complexion of this series," Mitchell said. The Cavs never led in the game and trailed 60-54 at halftime. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.