The Cleveland Cavaliers let last night’s Eastern Conference Finals opener against the New York Knicks slip away, and for one former Kansas State standout, it’s the kind of momentum shift he probably didn’t need.
Former Wildcat suddenly facing pressure after Cavaliers stumble
Dean Wade, previously a forward for Kansas State under then-head coach Bruce Weber, made an appearance in last night’s matchup against the Knicks inside Madison Square Garden. In 29 minutes, he didn't disappoint.
Dean Wade vs. New York Knicks 5/19/2026
— NBA Shooting Audit (@NBAShotAudit) May 20, 2026
10 PTS | 3-5 FG | L 104-115 pic.twitter.com/OSSBMAu6pS
Wade scored 10 points, knocking down three of five shots from the floor, and added five rebounds and three assists. Last night’s story, however, wasn’t his stat line. It was everything that happened down the stretch.
Jalen Brunson led a 22-point fourth-quarter comeback, tying the game at 101-101 heading into overtime. And after a 9-0 surge to start the final five minutes, it became clear who had control. During the overtime stretch, Wade was scoreless, and the Cavaliers couldn’t recover, scoring just three points.
Cavaliers can’t afford another slip, but Game 2 looks like a climb
It’s worth noting that Cleveland’s leading scorer this season, Donovan Mitchell, finished with 29 points. But compared to Brunson, there's an obvious gap. Brunson finished with 38 points and controlled the game, something Wade and the Cavs just couldn't keep up with.
With game 2 at this stage is usually a coin toss, there’s an obvious difference between falling behind 2-0 and heading into Game 3 tied at 1-1. Given that tomorrow’s game is also at MSG, there’s a real chance the Cavs find themselves in a hole too deep to climb from. If magic is going to happen, it’s going to take more than just Wade.
What needs to change entering Game 2
The biggest challenge against New York is physicality. There isn't just size with guys like Karl Anthony-Towns and OG Anunoby, but also a level of versatility. Against teams like that, scoring is one thing, but controlling the boards is a different beast.
Eliminate second-chance points, slow down Brunson, and there’s still a chance to walk away from Game 2 even. Should that happen, there's a chance to take a 2-1 lead after Game 3 in Cleveland.
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