CLEVELAND _ Not only were the Cavaliers playing their first game at home after a six-game, 11-day trip, they were also shorthanded.
Because of injury and illness, the Cavs had only 10 available players, including two on two-way contracts with the G League's Canton Charge.
"Ultimate next-man up game," Cavs coach John Beilein said before facing the New York Knicks Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Lethargy from the time away was evident as the Cavs scored just 36 points in the second half and dropped their fifth consecutive game, 106-86 to the Knicks on Martin Luther King Day. The arena celebration included pregame and halftime performances by the choir from Cleveland's Word Church, including Cavs player introductions to "Glory," the theme song from movie "Selma."
The Cavs (12-32) have lost 10 of their last 12, but Monday began a stretch in which they play nine of 11 games at home.
The game could have lottery pick implications as two teams among the four worst squared off. The Knicks (12-32) and Cavs entered the day with records better than only the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors (both 10-34).
The Cavs shot 20% from the field in the third quarter and scored just 14 points, their lowest total in that quarter this season, to trail by 15 at the break. Cedi Osman went 0 for 5, Collin Sexton 1 for 6 and Darius Garland 1 for 4 in the third, which included a 15-0 run by the Knicks.
Sexton led the Cavs with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, Osman had 14 points, Tristan Thompson 13 points and a career-high 22 rebounds, Larry Nance Jr. 12 points and 10 rebounds and Kevin Love 12 points and nine rebounds.
Sexton and Garland combined to shoot 10 of 40, and the Cavs missed 60 shots in all.
Marcus Morris and Julius Randle led the Knicks with 19 points each. Randle contributed nine rebounds and Elfrid Payton had eight assists.
Missing for the Cavs were centers John Henson (sore lower back) and Ante Zizic (illness) and guard Brandon Knight (sore left knee). Beilein didn't go to Tyler Cook and two-way Matt Mooney until 2:58 remained and Mooney scored two points.
Rookie guard Kevin Porter Jr. (sprained left knee) recently resumed basketball activities and rookie guard/forward Dylan Windler is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday after continuing to experience symptoms from the stress reaction in his lower left leg that will keep him out all season.
The Knicks' 15-0 third-quarter surge included a call unpopular on the Cavs bench and among the home crowd.
With 7:30 remaining, forward Marcus Morris drilled a 3-pointer over the extended arm of Love and Morris went down immediately. A replay review was announced to look for a "hostile act" even though Love barely touched Morris' wrist. Love's foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1 even though arena replays showed Morris had come down on Love's foot.
Morris hit the ensuing free throw for a 66-54 lead. The Knicks tacked on an 11-2 run to end the quarter and claim a 79-64 advantage.
There was progress in one regard. On Saturday at Chicago, the Cavs committed 26 turnovers that led to 33 points. Against the Knicks, the Cavs lost the ball 10 times, which led to 14 points.
