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 Cleveland (27-44) trails the Atlanta Hawks by 5 1/2 games for the
eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The
come-from-behind win by Cleveland, which trailed by 15 points at the
half, ended the Knicks' (29-40) eight-game winning streak.
Jack, who started in place of Cleveland's leading scorer Kyrie
Irving, who is out due to a biceps injury, scored 13 points in the
fourth quarter. The double-double was Jack's first of the season and
22nd in his eight-year career. He became the 15th player to score a
personal best in points against the Knicks this season.
Guard Dion Waiters, getting a rare start, scored 22 points and
forward Luol Deng scored 13 points in his return from a three-game
absence with a sprained left ankle for Cleveland, which snapped a
four-game losing streak.
Cleveland shot 23-for-30 (76.7 percent) from the floor in the second
half. Only center Tyler Zeller didn't score among the Cavaliers'
nine players.
In addition to missing Irving, the Cavaliers were without starting
forward Anthony Bennett (left patellar tendon strain) and guard C.J.
Miles (left ankle sprain).
Forward Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points for the Knicks. Anthony
managed just five points in the fourth quarter, when he shot 0-for-5
from the field.
The Knicks trail the Hawks, who lost to Toronto earlier Sunday, by
three games for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
"It's very tough," said Knicks coach Mike Woodson of the missed
opportunity to gain ground on Atlanta. "We could have moved within
two games if we handled business and we didn't. I take full
responsibility for that."
A Jack basket and two free throws by guard Matthew Dellavedova iced
the game for Cleveland in the final 24 seconds.
"Once (Jarrett) Jack and (Dion) Waiters got going, it was tough to
get stop," Woodson said. "They made some tough shots. Even when we
made the switch when Raymond got knocked off, he (Jack) still made
some tough shots over Tyson (Chandler), which I thought was the
difference in the game."
Anthony's two free throws moved the Knicks to within 102-100 with 42
seconds left after Jack's 20-foot jumper gave the Cavaliers a 102-96
lead with 1:45 to play.
A 3-pointer from guard Dion Waiters and a layup from center Anderson
Varejao lifted Cleveland to a 100-94 cushion with 2:37 to play.
Deng's 3-pointer gave Cleveland its first lead since early in the
game at 93-92 with 5:45 remaining. Jack tied the score at 90-90 with
a jumper with 7:28 left.
"Being a point guard, you love to have the ball in your hands," said
Jack. "I was just trying to make the proper play. Whether it was me
or Dion (Waiters) knocking down 3's or Loul (Deng) getting open, we
were able to keep them (Knicks) honest."
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Cleveland cut the Knicks' lead to 73-70 on a 7-0 burst with 4:52
left in the third quarter, but New York remained on top 84-77
heading into the fourth quarter.
The Knicks' ball movement on the perimeter led to a 61-46 halftime
lead. Guard Raymond Felton (14 points) recorded all eight of his
assists in the first half as the Knicks were 8-for-12 from the
beyond the 3-point arc in the half.
The Knicks shot 17-for-21 (71.4 percent) from the floor in the first
quarter, taking a 34-27 lead. Anthony connected on six of his seven
shots for 14 points. Waiters contributed 10 points in the quarter.
"We're a very, very young ball club," said Jack. "It's a process
trying to play hard every night. It's a skill. That's what separates
the good teams from the middle of the pack."
NOTES: New York was without G Iman Shumpert, who was sidelined with
the flu. ... The Knicks start a five-game road trip against the Los
Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. ... Knicks G Tim Hardaway Jr. began the
day third among NBA rookies in free-throw (82 percent) and 3-point
(36.5 percent) accuracy. ... Knicks F Carmelo Anthony is averaging a
career-best 8.3 rebounds per game. He pulled down eight boards
Sunday. ... F Amar'e Stoudemire averaged 18 points during the
Knicks' eight-game winning streak. ... The Cavaliers are the only
team in the league with three players in the Eastern Conference's
top 10 rebound leaders — C Anderson Varejao (10.0), F Tristan
Thompson (9.3) and C Spencer Hawes (8.5). ... Cleveland G Dion
Waiters is the highest-scoring bench player in the Eastern
Conference this season at 14.7 ppg. ... Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving,
who turned 22 on Sunday, missed his fourth straight game with a left
biceps strain. ... The Knicks are the first NBA team to win eight
straight games immediately after a seven-game losing streak since
the 1992-93 Houston Rockets.
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