'That as a choke job,' Charles Barkley says of Cavs Game 1 loss vs Knicks
The Cleveland Cavaliers blew a 22-point lead to the New York Knicks in Game 1, prompting Charles Barkley to call it a 'choke job'.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a chance to steal a game on the road against the New York Knicks . Instead, in Game 1, the Cavs blew a 22-point lead as the Knicks closed regulation on an 18-1 run, forced overtime and pulled away for a 115-104 win to take a 1-0 series lead. ESPN NBA analyst Charles Barkley didn't mince words immediately after the loss.
Cavs lose Game 1: Our instant reactions to Cleveland's stunning loss "Hell yeah that was a choke job," Barkley said on ESPN after the game. "They started to take the air out of the ball with six minutes to go like dummies. " The game was the second largest postseason comeback in NBA history after the Los Angeles Clippers came back to beat the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012.
Cleveland was outscored by New York 44-11 to end the game. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson criticized for timeout usage Barkley and fellow analyst Shaquille O'Neal also criticized Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson for not calling timeouts as the 22-point lead evaporated. "That was a damn gag job right there," Barkley said later in the broadcast.
The Cavs and Knicks will play Game 2 at 8:30 p. m. ET on Thursday, May 21.