Source: AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhile New York celebrated, frustration boiled over on the Cleveland bench. Donovan Mitchell was visibly animated during a disastrous first half for the Cavaliers, with cameras capturing the All-Star guard passionately addressing teammates as the game slipped away. Cleveland trailed by as many as 29 points before heading into halftime down 68-49.<\/p>\n
Mitchell did everything he could to keep the Cavaliers alive, scoring 20 first-half points on 6-of-13 shooting, but Cleveland struggled to match New York\u2019s intensity on either end of the floor.<\/p>\n
Landry Shamet was the standout performer of the night for the Knicks, quietly emerging as one of the surprise difference-makers in the series with his sharp outside shooting.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old has built a journeyman career across five teams since 2018 before landing in New York in 2024, where he has steadily carved out a role in the rotation.<\/p>\n
His impact in the series has been hard to ignore, with his shooting helping swing key moments and putting him firmly in the spotlight on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n
On a modest salary of $3.08 million ($4.2 million AUD), Shamet\u2019s performances are likely to attract attention around the league heading into the off-season.<\/p>\n
Brunson collected the honour of winning the Eastern Conference Most Value Player award capping off a brilliant personal campaign.<\/p>\n
Across the series, he averaged 25.5 points and 7.7 assists, setting the tone from start to finish. His 38-point explosion in Game 1 sparked a stunning comeback from 22 points down in the fourth quarter, finishing with an overtime win. He followed it up with 19 points and 14 assists in Game 2 as the Knicks pulled away for a 16-point victory, before dropping 30 points in Game 3 to keep firm control of the series.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 25: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts after receiving the “Larry Bird” MVP trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Gregory Shamus\/Getty Images\/AFP (Photo by Gregory Shamus \/ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA \/ Getty Images via AFP)<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor the Cavaliers, the loss now places even more attention on Mitchell\u2019s future in Cleveland. The superstar guard, who is on a three-year $150 million ($210 million AUD) deal, becomes extension-eligible this off-season and holds significant leverage over the franchise\u2019s next move. If Mitchell chooses to delay signing a new deal, or waits until free agency in 2027, the Cavaliers may eventually need to consider major roster decisions.<\/p>\n
Should Cleveland ever explore a trade, Mitchell would instantly become one of the league\u2019s most sought-after players. The Miami Heat have long been linked as a potential destination, although league speculation has also connected Miami to a possible pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n
Despite the disappointing playoff exit, Mitchell produced another outstanding regular season, averaging 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists across 70 games while shooting 48.3 per cent from the field and 36.4 per cent from three-point range. His performances helped guide Cleveland to the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and a deep playoff run.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden reacts to a call during the first half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the New York Knicks in Cleveland, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki)<\/span>Source: AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nQuestions are also beginning to emerge around James Harden following a difficult postseason series. Harden, currently on a two-year, $81 million deal, struggled throughout the matchup and was repeatedly targeted defensively by the Knicks.<\/p>\n
The former MVP arrived in Cleveland as part of the blockbuster trade involving former Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, but ESPN\u2019s Brian Windhorst believes the organisation remains committed to keeping Harden long term.<\/p>\n
\u201cJames Harden\u2019s gonna be a Cav. They\u2019re gonna give him a new contract,\u201d Windhorst said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey made this deal for basically the next season and a half to two years. The 2026 playoffs were a big part of why they made that deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite being outplayed across the series and failing to win a game in the Eastern Conference Finals, Harden still felt Cleveland had the tools to make things closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was 4-0, but I don\u2019t think we had a chance as far as our best shot,\u201d Harden said post-game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey dominated us 4-0. But I don\u2019t know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely I do feel like we\u2019re the better team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harden, who holds a player option this summer, also made it clear he wants to remain in Cleveland next season, saying he is \u201c100 per cent\u201d committed to returning.<\/p>\n
The veteran guard has spent the past few years moving between teams in search of a championship, and Cleveland\u2019s exit will only add to questions about whether he eventually looks elsewhere for another title push. For now, though, he appears focused on running it back.<\/p>\n
His form in the series, however, did little to strengthen his case. Across four games, Harden averaged 16.0 points, 3.0 assists and 4.3 turnovers, shooting 38.9 per cent from the field and just 17.9 per cent from three-point range.<\/p>\n
Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell also signalled his desire to stay long term, offering a more optimistic outlook on the team\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love it here. I don\u2019t know how else to say it, but I love it here,\u201d Mitchell said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have unfinished business. This city deserves a ring and we\u2019re just gonna keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, attention turns to what comes next for Cleveland after a season that showed clear progress, but ended in disappointment against a Knicks side that simply proved too strong.<\/p>\n
Harden pointed to New York\u2019s shot-making as the key difference in the series.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey made shots – some open, some just tough shots,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we made really any. It\u2019s pretty much pinpointed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cavaliers have taken a step forward by reaching their first conference finals since the LeBron James era, but the sweep has left them with a long off-season and plenty to reassess.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, ending a 27-year wait after completing a dominant series sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Watch every game of the 2026 NBA Conference Finals LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":245229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[156],"class_list":{"0":"post-245228","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245228"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245228\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}