CLEVELAND — Must-win game. Do or die. Win or go home.
Regardless of which phrase is used, everyone knows what’s at stake Wednesday night for the Cavaliers in Game 5 against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Cavs trail the Knicks 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, meaning Cleveland needs to prevail to avoid elimination and force the first-round NBA playoff series back to New York for Game 6.
Cavs replay: Cleveland drops Game 4 to New York Knicks and trails in first-round NBA playoffs series 3-1
If the Cavs were to lose Wednesday, their 2022-23 season would end in disappointing fashion, just five games into their first playoff appearance since 2018 and first without LeBron James since 1998.
If the Cavs were to somehow capture victory in the next two games, a winner-take-all Game 7 would be Sunday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse because Cleveland (51-31 in the regular season) earned the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed and home-court advantage while New York finished fifth (47-35).
Can Cavs find their mojo from Game 2?: ‘My little man’ Evan Mobley rebounds for Cavs and looks to maintain momentum vs. Knicks
If the Cavs were to triumph Wednesday, Game 6 would be Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where Cleveland lost twice in the regular season and then fell in Game 3 and Game 4 in the postseason.
Check back here to see how Game 5 unfolds through our updates and analysis.
Julius Randle appears to injury ankle late in second quarter, limps off floor and into locker room
1:17, second quarter: The Knicks might have been delivered a tough blow, as Julius Randle went down while holding his left ankle. Randle missed the last five games of the regular season with a sprained left ankle.
He walked off the floor with a noticeable limp and headed to the locker room.
On that play, Caris LeVert hit a 3 to follow Donovan Mitchell’s 3 on the prior possession to cut the Knicks’ lead to 59-49.
2:16, second quarter: The Cavs are having trouble eating into the Knicks’ lead, and they’re going to run out of time quickly.
The Knicks continue to force the issue, and the Cavs have had trouble keeping up. As they walked off the floor for this last timeout, there seems to be a level of frustration on Cleveland’s bench.
The Knicks lead 57-43.
Knicks again dominating rebound battle over Cavs
6:00, second quarter: Once again, the Cavs were able to force Jalen Brunson into a miss, only for the Knicks to still come away with points. Brunson missed a jumper, but Mitchell Robinson tapped in a put-back to put the Knicks up 49-36.
Just before that, Okoro hit a 3. He’s 4 for 4 from the floor for a team-high 10 points.
7:20, second quarter: Isaac Okoro came up with the exact play the Cavs need — he just couldn’t hold onto the ball.
Okoro, in isolation with Jalen Brunson, stuck with him and forced a missed shot, which led to a standing ovation from the crowd. Except, Okoro couldn’t hold onto the ball, and it remained the Knicks’ possession. Quickley then drilled a 3-pointer, a deflating shot after Okoro was finally able to lock down Brunson.
The Cavs, in a win-or-go-home situation, trail 45-33.
8:00, second quarter: Offensive rebounds are still killing the Cavs.
The Knicks already have seven offensive rebounds, which had led to nine second-chance points. With that, the Knicks are maintaining a 42-31 lead. The Cavs have one offensive rebound, which didn’t lead to a basket.
Even dating back to the regular season, the Cavs being out-muscled in the rebounding battle has been a recurring problem for Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland both struggling offensively as Knicks build double-digit lead
9:45, second quarter: The Cavs’ deficit has grown to 11, partially due to both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland struggling from the floor. That duo is a combined 4-12 for eight points. And as this was being typed, Mitchell had another shot blocked.
The Cavs likely can’t afford an off night from either of them, and especially not both.
Knicks lead the Cavs 33-26 after first quarter of Game 5
End first: Knicks 33, Cavs 26: The Cavs finished the first quarter on a run led by, of all players, Isaac Okoro, who hit a 3-pointer and then added a transition layup to cut into the Knicks’ lead.
Jalen Brunson is still perfect on the offensive end with 12 points. The Cavs will have to find a way to slow Brunson down. Another troubling stat for the Cavs: they trail the rebounding battle 12-6.
Jalen Brunson starts Game 5 hot, Cavs trail Knicks 23-14
4:00, first quarter: The Cavs don’t seem to have an answer for Cavs guard Jalen Brunson — again.
Brunson has been perfect on the offensive end so far, shooting 4 for 4 from the floor and scoring a game-high 10 points, as the Knicks have opened up a 23-14 lead.
Donovan Mitchell starts slow, but Caris LeVert picks up the slack as Cavs and Knicks are tied early
7:00, first quarter: The Cavs and Knicks are all tied up at 10-10. Prior to the game, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted the Cavs needed to come out fast, and that he expected Donovan Mitchell to lead them early on.
That hasn’t been the case, as Mitchell has missed his first three shots and is still pointless. Caris LeVert, as he did in Game 2, has picked up that slack by hitting both of his 3-point attempts to tie it.
Here is some pregame information.
Game 5: How to watch Cavs vs. Knicks Game 5 amid local blackout restrictions
Will Caris LeVert start for the Cavaliers in Game 5 against the Knicks?
For the third consecutive game, Caris LeVert will start for the Cavs instead of Isaac Okoro, the team announced.
LeVert entered the series as the Cavs’ sixth man and Okoro as Cleveland’s starting small forward.
Will Quentin Grimes play for the Knicks in Game 5 vs. Cavs?
Knicks guard Quentin Grimes entered Wednesday listed as questionable to play because of a right shoulder contusion. Shortly before tipoff, the Knicks ruled out Grimes.
Cavs vs. Knicks first-round NBA playoffs schedule. What time is Game 5 in Cleveland?
-
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (7 p.m., NBA TV, Bally Sports Ohio)
-
Game 6: Friday, April 28, Cavaliers at Knicks, Madison Square Garden (time, channel TBA)*
-
Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (time, channel TBA)*
*If necessary
How can I watch Game 5 of Cavs vs. Knicks NBA playoff series on TV?
Game 5 between the Cavs and Knicks can be viewed on NBA TV and Bally Sports Ohio.
How can I listen to Cavs vs. the Knicks Game 5 on the radio?
The game will air locally on 1100-AM (WTAM) and 100.7-FM (WMMS).
It will also be broadcast on these stations:
-
Akron – WAKR 1590 AM
-
Akron – WAKR 93.5 FM
-
Ashtabula – WZOO 102.5 FM
-
Canton – WHBC 1480 AM
-
Celina – WCSM 1350 AM
-
Celina – WCSM 96.7 FM
-
Cleveland – WTAM 1100 AM
-
Cleveland – WMMS 100.7 FM
-
Cleveland – WTAM 106.9 FM
-
Columbus – WJYD 107.1 FM
-
Dover / New Philadelphia – WJER 100.9 FM
-
Dover / New Philadelphia – WJER 1450 AM
-
Fostoria – WFOB 105.7 FM
-
Fostoria – WFOB 1430 AM
-
Lima – WIMA 1150 AM
-
Lorain / Elyria – WEOL 930 AM
-
Lorain / Elyria – WEOL 100.3 FM
-
Lorain – SPANISH – WNZN 89.1 FM
-
Mansfield – WRGM 1440 AM
-
Mansfield – WRGM 106.7 FM
-
Marietta – WMOA 1490 AM
-
Marietta – WMOA 101.3 FM
-
Norwalk – WLKR 95.3 FM
-
Painesville – WABQ 1460 AM
-
St Mary, WV – WJAW 630 AM
-
St Mary, WV – WJAW 92.9 FM
-
Painesville – WABQ 1460 AM
-
Sandusky – WLEC 1450 AM
-
Sandusky – WLEC 93.5 FM
-
Wooster – WQKT 104.5 FM
Ryan Lewis can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs Game 5: Live score, updates as Cavaliers face Knicks down 3-1