Cavs’ Garland on loss to Knicks: ‘We couldn’t make a shot tonight’

While it’s cliche, the NBA is truly a make or miss league, and for the first time in three games, the Cleveland Cavaliers were not making their shots. Coming into Tuesday’s home game against the Knicks, Cleveland was averaging 122.3 points per game and shooting 51% from the field, which is why they were 3-0. However, Tuesday was a different story for the Cavs.

Cleveland got good looks against New York(2-2), but they could not make the shots. They shot 36% from the field, including 7-32 from downtown, and ultimately, the Cavaliers(3-1) would suffer their first loss of the season 95-86.

Julius Randle led the Knicks and had a triple-double with a game-high 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The first quarter set the tone for Cleveland. They shot 24% from the field and were 0-10 from three-point range. New York led 29-15 after one quarter. According to Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, that first quarter affected the team the rest of the way. 

“I think we were a little demoralized early. When we were creating great looks for ourselves, and it didn’t go,” Bickerstaff said. “I thought we played good basketball in the first quarter. I thought we missed open shots, and we allowed that to impact us for the remainder of the game.”

Cleveland played well on the defensive end and forced 25 turnovers, which led to 27 points, but when you don’t make shots, it’s hard to win in the NBA.

“We couldn’t make a shot tonight,” said Cavs G Darius Garland, who scored 17 points against New York. “We played great defense. Our defense brought us back into the game, so the defense, it was there. We made them turn the ball over, and we just couldn’t make a shot in the first half, and that is what got us in this hole, and we just couldn’t come back from it.”

Garland(6-18 FGs) and Collin Sexton(6-17 FGs) decided to put up shots after the game because of their poor shooting. 

“We were just out there working,” Garland said. “That’s all it was. We just had a bad game in our opinions, so we just got up several shots.”

Sexton added: “I shot a lot after the game. I’ll be ready to go back on Thursday against Indiana.”

This was a game the Cavaliers needed to have because they are about to embark on a six-game road trip, which won’t be easy. However, if they can get the looks they got on Tuesday against the Knicks and continue to create turnovers, they should continue to have success this season.

Notes:

-Cavaliers C Andre Drummond recorded his fourth-straight double-double with 18 points and 17 rebounds against New York.

-Cleveland begins their six-game road trip on Thursday against the Pacers. After Indiana, they have the Hawks, Magic(2x). Grizzlies, and Bucks.