CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers appeared poised for a decisive win on Christmas Day, only to see a 17 point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter as the New York Knicks pulled off a 126-124 victory, highlighting Cleveland’s ongoing rebounding struggles.
The Cavaliers controlled much of the game through strong offensive execution and timely scoring but faltered late as the Knicks capitalized on second chance opportunities.
Offensive rebounds proved decisive in New York’s comeback, undermining Cleveland’s efforts in the closing minutes.
Cleveland entered the matchup with expectations of improvement this season after showing flashes of cohesion in recent games.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting and contributed six assists. Darius Garland added 20 points and 10 assists, while Evan Mobley returned from a two week absence to post 14 points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.
The Cavaliers built momentum early, dominating the first and third quarters by a combined 29 points. Yet, their inability to maintain defensive intensity in the second and fourth quarters allowed New York to seize control late in the game.
“Rebounding has been a recurring weakness for this team,” said Jordan Price, a basketball analyst at Hoops Insight.
“Giving up offensive boards to a team like the Knicks directly translates to more possessions, more points, and, ultimately, a higher probability of losing close games.”
The Knicks capitalized on five offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter alone, converting them into 10 second chance points.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 34 points, 13 of which came in the final quarter, while Tyler Kolek added 11 points in the same period, including a decisive tip-in from Karl Anthony Towns.
Cleveland shot an efficient 44.1 percent from three-point range (15-of-34), marking their third consecutive game of strong perimeter shooting.
Despite this, their defensive shortcomings proved costly. For comparison, the Cavaliers have allowed opponents to score more than 120 points in five of their last six games, often linked to missed defensive rebounds in key moments.
Evan Mobley’s return provided a lift in the paint, yet the team’s overall rebounding totals lagged behind expectations.
“Even when key players perform well, if the team cannot secure defensive boards, it puts tremendous pressure on perimeter defenders,” Price added.
Fans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse expressed mixed reactions. “It was frustrating to see them lose a game they controlled for so long,” said local season ticket holder Marcus Ellison.
“Mitchell and Garland played great, but the board work let them down.” Knicks supporters celebrated a comeback that underscored their team’s resilience.
“We never counted ourselves out,” said Knicks fan Sarah Johnson. “The way Brunson and Kolek stepped up in the fourth shows why this team is dangerous.”
Cleveland faces another test when they travel to Houston to face the Rockets on Saturday.
Analysts emphasize that the Cavaliers must maintain consistency for a full 48 minutes and improve rebounding, particularly on the defensive end, to secure wins against competitive opponents.
“Games like this are instructive,” Price noted. “The Cavs have talent, but closing out games requires focus and execution in every aspect, including rebounding, which has repeatedly been a differentiator in their results.”
The Cavaliers’ Christmas Day loss to the Knicks underscores a persistent vulnerability poor rebounding, particularly in late game situations.
While offensive production and individual performances remain strong, defensive lapses continue to determine outcomes. Cleveland’s ability to convert promising stretches into complete performances will be crucial as the season progresses.
