Hardaway, Knicks give Cavs 4th loss in 5 games, 114-95
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLEVELAND (AP) -- Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 34 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 32 and the New York Knicks handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their fourth loss in five games, 114-95 on Sunday night.
Cleveland, which was blown out by Orlando and lost to Brooklyn during this stretch, fell below .500 despite cutting a 19-point deficit to six in the fourth quarter.
LeBron James downplayed the Cavaliers' problems following Saturday night's 123-101 loss in New Orleans, saying "I'm fine. We're fine," but the issues continued for the defending Eastern Conference champions.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York, after winning its first game Friday over the Nets, led 89-71 late in the third quarter. Cleveland cut it to 94-88 on James' drive, forcing New York to call a timeout with 8:21 left.
Courtney Lee scored on a drive and hit a 3-pointer, helping the Knicks make it 103-88. New York took its largest lead, 114-93, in the final minute.
New York beat Cleveland for the first time since Oct. 30, 2014 -- James' first game back with the Cavaliers after playing four seasons in Miami -- a span that covered 10 games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hardaway came in shooting 27 percent in four games but scored 24 points in the first half. He was 11 of 19 from the field and hit 5 of 10 3-pointers.
Kevin Love led the Cavaliers with 22 points while James had 16. Derrick Rose returned after missing four games because of a sprained left ankle and scored 15 points.
Cleveland led 13-10, but Hardaway scored 10 points, including two 3-pointers and a dunk off an alley-oop pass from Jarrett Jack, as New York went on a 14-0 run.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cavaliers tied it at 49 late in the second quarter, but the Knicks scored seven straight points and pushed the lead to 62-54 at halftime.
New York took over in the third quarter and built the lead to 17 on several occasions in the period.
ANOTHER INJURY
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert didn't play because of a sore right knee. He saw time at point guard with Rose sidelined and started Saturday.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Porzingis had 12 rebounds while Kantner had 18 points and 12 rebounds. … Lee scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds. … Jack and G Ramon Sessions each spent one full season with Cleveland.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cavaliers: Cleveland's loss to Orlando snapped a 17-game winning streak against the Magic. … Power forward Tristan Thompson had one point, no rebounds and four fouls in 19 minutes. … Love hit two 3-pointers in the first six minutes, giving him 900 for his career.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Return home to play Denver on Monday night in their first back-to-back set of the season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cavaliers: Host Indiana on Wednesday night. Cleveland has won seven straight in the series at home.