Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell offers explicit assessment of the team's historic collapse to the Knicks

The Cleveland Cavaliers blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead, and prima Donovan Mitchell did not mince words astir nan historical collapse.

The New York Knicks defeated nan Cavaliers 115-104 successful Game 1 of nan Eastern Conference Finals connected Tuesday nighttime astatine Madison Square Garden, erasing a 93-71 shortage pinch 7:52 near to play successful regulation.

"I said it successful nan locker room, conscionable that we lost, we f–king blew it," Mitchell said successful his postgame news conference.

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Cleveland Cavaliers defender Donovan Mitchell reacts during overtime successful Game 1 of nan Eastern Conference Finals against nan New York Knicks astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York, New York, connected May 19, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

The only bigger fourth-quarter playoff comeback successful nan past 30 years was nan Los Angeles Clippers rally from 24 down to hit nan Memphis Grizzlies successful Game 1 of nan first information successful 2012.

The Cavaliers were successful power of nan crippled done 40 minutes, arsenic nan team’s defense stifled nan high-powered Knicks offense. Mitchell scored 29 points and had six steals successful nan loss.

"We could’ve mislaid by 40. It still would’ve been 1-0," Mitchell said. "Watch nan film. We played beautiful coagulated for 3 quarters aliases so. We’ll make adjustments and spell from there."

KNICKS STORM BACK TO SHOCK CAVS IN GAME 1 AS JAMES HARDEN'S DEFENSIVE PLAY COMES UNDER SCRUTINY

Donovan Mitchell of nan Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Landry Shamet and Jalen Brunson of nan New York Knicks during nan 2nd half of Game 1 of nan Eastern Conference Finals successful New York, New York, connected May 19, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

The 29-year-old said he doesn’t want to fto 1 4th impact nan remainder of nan series.

"It’s 1 loss. It’s a bad loss, but each we tin do is spell backmost and watch nan movie and hole it," Mitchell said.

"That can’t happen. But it did. We play successful 2 days. We can’t beryllium present and fto it termination our momentum, termination what we’ve been doing. It’s not a bully loss, but we sewage to spell retired location and respond for Game 2."

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New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacts aft scoring during nan 2nd half of Game 1 of nan Eastern Conference Finals against nan Cleveland Cavaliers successful New York, New York, connected May 19, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

Jalen Brunson sparked nan Knicks comeback win, scoring 16 of his game-high 38 points successful nan 4th quarter. The Knicks went connected a 44-11 tally successful nan 4th fourth and overtime to complete nan stunning comeback.

The Knicks came from 20 points down 3 times past twelvemonth successful nan postseason. Those were their largest comebacks connected grounds since 1969-70, erstwhile they won their first of 2 NBA titles.

The Cavaliers will effort to get disconnected nan mat and bounce backmost successful Game 2 against nan Knicks connected Thursday nighttime astatine 8 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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