Cavs outlast Knicks to snap four-game skid

Love, Cavaliers snap four-game losing streak by outlasting Knicks

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The New York Knicks’ franchise-record 17th straight loss might have been the toughest one to take.

The Knicks erased a 17-point deficit in the second half and had several chances to take the lead or tie the game in the final minute before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-104 on Monday night.

Collin Sexton, who led Cleveland with 20 points, hit two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to put the Cavaliers up by three.

John Jenkins missed a 3-pointer from the right corner, but Dennis Smith Jr. grabbed the rebound and dribbled to the left corner. He also missed a 3-pointer and Larry Nance Jr. tapped the rebound to midcourt as time ran out.

Luke Kornet, who hit a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch, missed a wide-open 3 with 21 seconds remaining that would have put the Knicks ahead.

Nance had 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Jordan Clarkson scored 15 points. Kevin Love had 14 points and nine rebounds in his second game since returning from foot surgery. The All-Star forward played 16 minutes, all in the first half. Love was 4 of 10 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and had nine rebounds.

Love played Friday against Washington after missing 50 games. He scored four points in six first-quarter minutes.

“I felt like the last game I wasn’t able to open up my lungs like I was tonight,” Love said. “It felt pretty good to get out there and feel like I got in some sort of rhythm.”

Love said he thinks he’ll play Wednesday against Brooklyn in Cleveland’s final game before the All-Star break.

Kadeem Allen scored a career-high 25 points for the Knicks. New York (10-46) has the worst record in the league, and has lost 25 of 26 and 30 of its last 32 games.

Cleveland (12-45) broke a four-game losing streak.

Kevin Knox scored 13 points while DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 10 rebounds for New York.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: F Tristan Thompson (sore left foot) likely won’t play until after the All-Star break. He has missed the last 12 games. ... F Cedi Osman (sprained right ankle) was out for the fourth straight game. .... C Ante Zizic (sore lower back) was a late scratch.

A WIN

Cleveland won for the first time this season with Love on the floor. He played the first four games in the Cavaliers’ 0-6 start and returned for Friday’s loss in Washington.