Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell offers explicit assessment of the team's historic collapse to the Knicks

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The Cleveland Cavaliers blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead, and star Donovan Mitchell did not mince words about the historic collapse.

The New York Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 115-104 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, erasing a 93-71 deficit with 7:52 left to play in regulation.

"I said it in the locker room, just that we lost, we f---ing blew it," Mitchell said in his postgame news conference.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell reacts during overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on May 19, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

The only bigger fourth-quarter playoff comeback in the last 30 years was the Los Angeles Clippers rally from 24 down to beat the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the first round in 2012.

The Cavaliers were in control of the game through 40 minutes, as the team’s defense stifled the high-powered Knicks offense. Mitchell scored 29 points and had six steals in the loss.

"We could’ve lost by 40. It still would’ve been 1-0," Mitchell said. "Watch the film. We played pretty solid for three quarters or so. We’ll make adjustments and go from there."

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Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Landry Shamet and Jalen Brunson of the Knicks during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in New York on May 19, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

The 29-year-old said he doesn’t want to let one quarter affect the rest of the series.

"It’s one