Kenny Atkinson insisted the Cleveland Cavaliers' huge win over the New York Knicks on Friday was not a "statement" victory. (More NBA News)
πThe Cavaliers recorded a sixth straight win in the NBA with their 142-105 thumping of the Knicks, who suffered their biggest defeat under coach Tom Thibodeau.
κ¦Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Evan Mobley added 21 as the Cavs improved their NBA-best record to 46-10. This was the 34th game this season they have won by double digits.
κ¦ΊCleveland had to play most of the second half without center Jarrett Allen, who injured his right hand, and also suffered a scare in the first as Darius Garland hit his head on the floor after an awkward fall, though he stayed in the game.
π§ΈDespite winning the match-up of two of the best Eastern Conference teams, Atkinson says there were lessons to learn from the win against a potential playoff opponent.
κ¦"No, no, no. I think we played well, I thought we were focused, but I wouldn't call it a statement win," Atkinson said.
π¦"They're obviously a really good team, we were at home, but I think we got good feedback on what could work if you play this team in the playoffs. That's probably the most important thing.
π "I don't have any stats to back this up, but it seems like Don [Mitchell] does not like to have two bad shooting nights in a row, and when he does shoot bad, you're pretty sure that (A) he's going to come out firing and (B) he's probably going to make a lot of them.
π‘"That's the competitor he is, and I felt he had a little more oomph today - a little more juice. It's part of what we talked about before with having lost to this team in the playoffs and wanting to prove yourself."
πThe Knicks, meanwhile, fell to 0-6 against the Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City in the NBA this season, the only teams that better their 37-19 record.
α¦New York beat the Chicago Bears in overtime on Thursday, and face another tight turnaround, with a trip to the Celtics up next on Sunday.
π¬"Just can't give in, and that's the biggest thing," Thibodeau said. "You can't allow anything to break you.
κ§"You got to have the mental toughness to get through things. And so, there's got to be a lot more resolve, particularly on the road against the team that is this good, you know?
π"[The quick turnaround is] part of this league, and you got to have the toughness to get through those things. That's what the schedule says, just be ready to play."
