May 19, 2026. The Cavaliers were enjoying a 20+ point lead to the Knicks in the fourth quarter. It’s the ECF, and the promise is certainly there. After two Game 7’s, they were playing fantastically against the league’s hottest team.

By the end of the night, they were stunned. A week later, they were out of the playoffs. And now, the very first game of their 2026-27 season, the very same patterns started to emerge.

Once leading by as many as 29 points, things just went the other way. Completely. And now, they’re left to unravel exactly what went wrong this time around.

Is Kenny Atkinson on the hot seat one game into the season?

Cavs Dream Start Turns Into Nightmare Finish

Late in the second quarter, the Cavs had a 69-40 lead on the Sixers. They managed five quick points to end the second. A 9-0 run in the opening minute of the third quarter. They eventually chipped away and made it happen.…