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NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson went 34:48 without a free-throw attempt in the New York Knicks’ 115-107 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, a total Knicks coach Mike Brown called alarming.
The loss ended New York’s four-game winning streak. Brunson came in averaging a career-high 7.8 free-throw attempts, ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill reported, and he scored 27 points on 12-of-23 shooting without getting to the line. In his postgame news conference, carried by SNY, Brown said he was a little surprised and was not sure how or why the free throws broke the way they did.
“You got to go back and watch the film,” Brown said. “But Jalen plays 34 minutes or almost 35 minutes, and he has zero free throw attempts. That’s pretty alarming.”
Mike Brown Points To 18-3 Free-Throw Gap
Through three quarters, Cleveland held an 18-3 edge in free-throw attempts, according to the game book. James Harden went 9-of-11 at the line, matching New York’s team total.
“I know at one time the free throw advantage was 18 to 3, and that’s not why we lost the game,” Brown said. “But you just hope to get a little bit better whistle when you’re playing a good team like that.”
Brunson, who sat the first 7:40 of the fourth quarter and returned with New York down 104-101, said he has to control what he can control, Goodwill reported.
“Sometimes you have to make adjustments, no matter how the game is being officiated,” Brunson said.
Brown Says Knicks Lost The Possession Game
New York made all 11 of its free throws, but Brown credited Cleveland for winning what he calls the possession game, a measure the Knicks track against good opponents.
“They had 14 more free throw attempts than us, four more offensive rebounds than us, and two less turnovers,” Brown said. “And when that happens versus a good team, it’s going to be hard to win the game.”
Brown said overcoming a loss in all three categories would have taken elite defense or elite offense, and that the Knicks had neither. He added that the offense is not always in a good flow yet, which he called fine because there are other ways to win while they work on it.
Brown Takes Blame For Late Blitz On Donovan Mitchell
Brown called Wednesday one of the Knicks’ worst defensive games in their past five or six, after a stretch in which they had played well at that end. He singled out the fourth quarter, when New York blitzed Donovan Mitchell, and credited Mitchell for hitting the pocket and making the right play out of the double-team.
“I kept us in the blitz a little too long, and I should have taken us out of the blitz,” Brown said. “So that part is on me, and I got to be better helping our group in that area.”
Mitchell had 3 of his 6 assists in the fourth quarter. Brown also credited Cleveland reserves Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas, who combined for 29 points, for shooting well and taking the right shots.
New York, now 6-5, visits the Indiana Pacers on Friday. The Cavaliers return to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 25.
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