Mitchell says – Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, but the Cleveland Cavaliers lost Game 2 and are now down 2-0 to the New York Knicks after a performance that looked flat after the first quarter. Mitchell pushed back on worries around Kenny Atkinson’s comments about an issue
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t have control for most of Game 2—only the first quarter—and by the time it was finished, the scoreboard told the story: they’re now down 2-0 in their series against the New York Knicks.
Donovan Mitchell still produced a team-high 26 points, but his night is the one that’s been debated the hardest. Some observers said he didn’t look like the same player. and those whispers quickly turned into a question everyone can’t stop asking this time of year—whether something is being carried under the surface.
Mitchell’s response was blunt. He said everything is good, that he’s fine and healthy. In the middle of the noise, Kenny Atkinson had said he was working through something. During the game, Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler said they felt Mitchell didn’t have his usual explosiveness. Mitchell disagreed, coming back with a smirk when he dismissed the idea. Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic wrote on X—formerly Twitter—that Mitchell said, “I’m great,” adding, “I’m great. I’m great.”.
Cleveland’s leadership clearly expects this season’s reality: players deal with things, and you have to figure it out. Mitchell also never seems interested in making excuses. and he didn’t come out to confirm an injury—or to offer the kind of opponent-facing admission that could change the way the Knicks defend the next game.
At the end of the day. the burden is still on the Cavaliers to play better. but they need more than one good performance. Game 1 showed they can play some good basketball, and they still have to execute at the end of games. In Game 2. New York simply played better than them. and the Cavaliers are now staring at a familiar kind of urgency as they head toward the possibility of needing a quick turnaround at home.
Cleveland has been here before. The Cavaliers were down 2-0 against the Detroit Pistons in the second round and tied the series back home. They’ll be looking to that memory now, hoping they can repeat the same shift—this time against the Knicks—once the momentum has to change sides.
Cleveland Cavaliers New York Knicks Donovan Mitchell Kenny Atkinson Richard Jefferson Tim Legler Game 2 series 2-0 playoffs