Knicks Blow 14-Point Fourth-Quarter Lead and Keep East Cellar to Themselves

With a 9-point lead and less than four minutes remaining, the Knicks seemed as if they were about to have company at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

But the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted no part of that. They used a late 12-0 run to overcome their deficit and post a 125-118 victory on Thursday night. The Knicks, who had won two games in row, have now lost 10 straight to the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden and 15 of 18 to them over all.

Kevin Love led Cleveland with 26 points. Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton each had 22 and Cedi Osman added 21 as the Cavaliers (15-47) avoided landing in the basement alongside the Knicks (13-49).

“When we’re sharing the ball, it’s fun to be out there,” Sexton said. “We were down in the fourth quarter and we all came together and said ‘We have to win this.’ ”

Allonzo Trier had 22 points for the Knicks, who led by 14 early in the fourth quarter and were ahead, 113-104, after Kevin Knox’s jumper with 3 minutes 51 seconds left.

But Sexton’s three-point play and layup cut Cleveland’s deficit to 113-109. After Knox followed with two free throws, the Cavaliers scored the next 12 points.

“We always felt we were in the game,” Love said.

The Knicks led by 9 points in the second quarter. But a 20-10 run culminated by Ante Zizic’s short hook with 3:07 left in the first half gave the Cavaliers their first lead, 51-50.

Mitchell Robinson’s alley-oop dunk gave the Knicks a 59-57 halftime lead. Dennis Smith Jr., who finished with 16 points, increased the lead to 97-85 on a four-point play with 3 seconds left in the third, and Damyean Dotson increased the advantage to 14 by opening the final quarter with a basket.

“With the struggles that we have had this year and what we had to deal with from an injury standpoint, being down players, any win is a good win,” Cavaliers Coach Larry Drew said.

Noah Vonleh finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Henry Ellenson scored 13 points, Robinson had 12, and Emmanuel Mudiay and Lance Thomas each scored 10.

“We totally let our foot off the gas; we got casual,” Knicks Coach David Fizdale said. “We got up 10 and decided that we weren’t going to get back on defense. We got a little full of ourselves thinking that we had the game. They made us pay for it.”

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