Donovan Mitchell, James Harden React to 'Adversity' of Cavs' 2-0 Series Deficit vs. Knicks

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the familiar but daunting position of needing to overcome a 2-0 series deficit after dropping Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals 109-93 to the New York Knicks on Thursday.

Donovan Mitchell told reporters after the game that "adversity" is nothing new for this Cavs team in the playoffs with the series heading back to Cleveland.

This isn't our first time facing adversity," Mitchell said. "We've been through two Game 7s, so being down 2-0 is not the biggest challenge. It's just something we just reached."

Cavaliers-Knicks Highlights

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Despite being held to their second-lowest point total of the playoffs in Game 2, James Harden thinks the Cavaliers can get back on track if they start making their open looks:

"We just hit no shots. We had a lot of open shots. Make shots, hit a couple of those, win the ball game. Throughout the entire game, our process was right. I don't know if it was tired legs, you know, whatever the case is going to be, but we had a lot of really good looks. It's part of the game."

Mitchell dismissed the notion that the Cavs are "tired" coming off back-to-back seven game series in the first two rounds, saying: "We're ready to go for Game 3."

Fatigue could help explain what has happened to Cleveland's offense since the fourth quarter of Game 1. The Cavaliers have scored 114 points in their last 65 minutes of game time, including overtime in the opener against the Knicks.

Their 104.1 offensive rating in Game 2 was 15.1 points below their regular-season average. They shot 38.8 percent overall and just 9-of-35 from three-point range.

If there is any silver lining for the Cavaliers at this point, it would be that they are in familiar territory. They lost the first two games against the Detroit Pistons in the previous round before coming back to win the series.

It should also help that the next two games are in Rocket Arena, where the Cavaliers are 6-1 this postseason. Game 3 will be played on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.