Cavaliers seek more from Evan Mobley as East finals shift to Cleveland for Game 3

If the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to dig out of another 2-0 playoff series deficit, they'll need Evan Mobley to be more aggressive.

Mobley had 10 points during the first quarter Thursday night against the New York Knicks. He added four points in the second quarter but was a nonfactor offensively in the second half, not taking a shot in the final two periods of the Cavaliers’ 109-93 loss.

The Cavaliers are hoping for better production out of their fifth-year forward on Saturday night when the Eastern Conference Finals shift to Cleveland for Game 3.

“That’s on all of us. We do have to get the ball in there more, I think we got away from our pick-and-roll a little bit more,” Cavaliers guard James Harden said about Mobley not getting a shot.

Mobley is averaging 16.7 points during the playoffs, which is third on the Cavaliers. He leads the team in rebounds (8.3 per game) and blocked shots with 31.

Even though Mobley has had big games during this postseason run, he hasn’t been a factor during critical moments in Cleveland’s losses.

During the Knicks’ 18-0 third-quarter run on Thursday night, the Cavs missed all seven shots, including four from beyond the arc.

“When I’m out there on the court, I’m just trying to make winning plays. Early on, the best decision was me shooting the open ones, and they kept leaving me open, so I kept shooting it, and they closed that gap and started driving it,” Mobley said after Thursday’s game. “They kept collapsing, so I kicked it to the open man. We just didn’t knock ’em all down. So I feel like we said the process was right. I could have been selfish on a few of them, but I think I made the right decision 95% of the time tonight. So you got to live with that and keep it moving.”

Mobley’s best play Thursday night came late in the first quarter, when he drove the baseline and finished with a reverse left-handed dunk.

He had 15 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots in Game 1, when the Knicks rallied from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 115-104 in overtime. He also has at least two blocked shots in nine straight games, the second-longest streak in franchise postseason history.

Mobley isn’t the only Cavs big man who needs to turn it up. Jarrett Allen has a 57.1% accuracy rate from the foul line after making 70.9% during the regular season.

He isn’t the only one struggling with free throws. The Cavaliers are 38 of 55 (69.1%) from the line during the first two games.

Coach Kenny Atkinson said his team has to do a better job of executing pick-and-roll plays.

“Sometimes I feel like we can just go set the pick, stop waiting for a play, stop waiting for somebody to call us up, and just run the offense from ourselves, not necessarily taking the ball and bringing it up the court, but initiating the offense by just going and setting a screen out of the blue,” Allen said of the adjustments he and Mobley could make.

All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell’s health is in question after he appeared to lack burst on drives and lift on jump shots.

Cleveland is trying to become the second team to complete a comeback from a 2-0 deficit in a second postseason series. The Milwaukee Bucks did it in the second round and the NBA Finals in 2021 to win their first title in 50 years.

The Cavaliers are 6-1 at home during the postseason and a league-best 19-4 as the host team since Jan. 23.

“I mean, we’re in the same place as last round. So, the good thing is we’ve been here before,” Mobley said. “It’s nothing that we haven’t fought through and prevailed. We’ve just got to win these next two at home and keep it moving.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley, right, drives past New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber still got on bass — guitar, that is — even as he sat out the last three games with a gastrointestinal illness.

Schwarber jammed at his fundraising block party this week with members of Mt. Joy and flashed his musical talent on a rendition of “Seven Nation Army.”

Schwarber's next smash hit should come in the Phillies' lineup.

The major league home run leader with 20, Schwarber was back at designated hitter and batting second in Friday's game against Cleveland.

Schwarber played in 225 straight games before he missed all three games this week against Cincinnati.

“I mean, I'm just never going to break Cal Ripken's record,” Schwarber said. “You take pride in being available on a daily basis. I think that's the biggest thing in our game, always try to make yourself available, being healthy."

The Reds took two of three and slowed the momentum of a Phillies team that had surged since interim manager Don Mattingly took over last month. The Phillies went from 9-19 to 25-23 before losing the last two games to the Reds.

“It's nice to have him back in the lineup and try and get our mix back together,” Mattingly said before Friday's game.

Schwarber said he had no restrictions in his return from the gastrointestinal illness against Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams.

“It wasn't like I was out there and got the runs or anything like that,” Schwarber said with a laugh. “I've dealt with it before. This hasn't really happened in season before. I kind of knew what to expect.”

Schwarber hit nine home runs in his last 10 games. Schwarber reached 20 home runs in his 45th game and became the second-fastest Phillies player to 20 home runs in club history behind only Cy Williams, who did it in his 44th game in 1923.

“His timing is going to be off," Mattingly said. “He's going to get it back. In general, I think once we get to a certain period of the season, you've got enough at-bats under your belt, a couple days (off) doesn't really hurt you.”

One positive during his absence: Schwarber's block party raised $443,000 for first responders and their families at Union Transfer in Philadelphia.

He did enjoy taking the stage with his guitar.

“Hell yeah, got me back to like my high school days,” Schwarber said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber celebrates his home run off of Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber gestures while rounding second base after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber is cheered in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)