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Cavaliers even series with resounding Game 2 win vs Knicks

By Justin Taguibao

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waves to the crowd during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 18, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 107-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waves to the crowd during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 18, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 107-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers rebound to even series at 1-1

The Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded from the tough series-opening loss to blow out the New York Knicks in Game 2 at home, 107-90. After losing homecourt advantage by falling short in the first game, Darius Garland took over to lead the Cavs to what was pretty much a wire-to-wire win.

Garland led all scorers with 32 points to go with seven assists while shooting 60 percent from deep, while Caris LeVert provided a huge spark off the bench with 24 points as a vengeful Cleveland squad completely decimated the visiting team.

Following a relatively close opening quarter, a much more aggressive Cavs team began to pull away in the second period, before erecting a massive lead that ballooned to as much as 28 at one point behind a rocking, sold-out Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse crowd.

The Tower City duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen was just as instrumental on both ends of the floor, combining for 22 points, 23 rebounds, and five blocked shots for the Cavs. On the other end, Julius Randle put up 22 points and eight rebounds while Jalen Brunson added 20 markers of his own in the losing effort.

The Cavs will look to regain homecourt advantage

Donovan Mitchell decided to take a different approach to this one, after leading the scoring party but ended up with a disappointing defeat in Game One. The Playoff veteran instead switched places with Garland and took over the facilitating, finishing with only 17 points but had 13 huge assists and a resounding victory.

Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s staff will have to make a decision whether to keep the red-hot Caris LeVert on the floor when the team travels to New York for the next pair of matchups or reinsert the defensive-minded Isaac Okoro to help guard the Knicks’ star guard Brunson. Okoro was left out of the rotation in Game 2 after falling into foul trouble early, but his woefully inconsistent shooting was also hurting the Cavaliers in close contests.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will now have to overcome a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd to try and steal back homecourt advantage when they visit the New York Knicks for Game 3 on April 21.

Next. Could a healthy Dylan Windler provide the bench scoring?. dark

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