Knicks struggling from deep in first half

Knicks coach Mike Brown warned before the game that the Knicks could have lost something in their mental edge after the nine-day break between finishing off the sweep of Philadelphia and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks' 2-for-19 shooting from three-point range in the first half might be a sign. They led by as many as 11 before trailing 48-46 at the half. Jalen Brunson went 0-for-5 from three, but still leads the Knicks with 14 points. Donovan Mitchell has 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting for Cleveland.

By Steve Popper

steve.popper@newsday.com@StevePopper

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.