Jalen Brunson didn’t hide from the way the Knicks played in their 115-107 loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
New York’s four-game winning streak came to an end in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, a series the Knicks swept after erasing a 22-point deficit in Game 1. This time, Cleveland handled the late-game moments better and walked out with the win.
Brunson led the Knicks with 27 points on 12-of-23 shooting, along with three rebounds and five assists, but he said he needed to be more assertive on offense.
“From how we started the game to how we finished it, just from my end, I can't be hesitant. I can't be stagnant at times.
It puts my team at a disadvantage. I just got to be a little more aggressive with my mistakes if I'm making any,” said Brunson in the video posted by SNY.
He also credited the Cavaliers for making the game difficult for him.
Jalen Brunson took responsibility for being hesitant and stagnant on offense vs. Cleveland
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) November 12, 2026
"It puts my team at a disadvantage. I just got to be a little more aggressive with my mistakes if I'm making any" pic.twitter.com/WxPitg226G
“You gotta give them a lot of credit. It's something I'll be a little more prepared for.
I just didn't adjust in-game as fast as I wanted to. I was still able to make plays, but not enough to win,” added Brunson.
The Knicks tried to punch back again, but Cleveland never blinked.
New York dropped to 6-5 overall and 4-3 at home, while the Cavaliers moved to 6-6. The Knicks also had Josh Hart back in the lineup after he missed three games with an ankle injury and an illness, but his return wasn’t enough to turn the night around.
Cleveland got a season-high 32 points from James Harden, and the Knicks now turn to Friday’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
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