CLEVELAND — The Knicks arrived and left Cleveland with the same problem: Their defense is atrocious against the NBA’s best.
Tom Thibodeau’s group was massacred Friday night by Kenny Atkinson’s high-octane Cavaliers, who made the Knicks look jayvee in a 142-105 laugher.
The defeat dropped the Knicks to 0-6 this season against the league’s top three teams — the Cavs, Thunder and Celtics — while casting further doubt on their ability to compete with those teams, let alone beat them, in a playoff series.
The problem was familiar and easy to spot: the defense. Donovan Mitchell, the former Knicks trade target, dissected New York’s soft shell while dropping 27 points in just 26 minutes on 10-of-15 shooting.
The Cavaliers shot 61 percent overall and 51 percent on 37 3-point attempts, building a 27-point lead at halftime.
It didn’t matter that OG Anunoby, the Knicks’ top defender, returned from a five-game absence because of a sprained foot.
Struggling on both ends, Anunoby finished with just five points in 27 minutes and appeared to hurt his foot again in the third quarter as the Cavaliers (46-10) scored more points than the Knicks allowed in any regulation game this season.
Even Thibodeau, who famously is reluctant to wave the white flag, gave up fast by emptying his bench to start the fourth quarter.
If the Cavs looked extra motivated, it’s because the Knicks helped create the monster that ate them up Friday night.
Nearly two years after getting punked by the Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs, Cleveland (46-10) has emerged as the most positively surprising upstart with the NBA’s best record.
And while the Cavs have changed in certain areas — most notably at coach with Atkinson and at the trade deadline with DeAndre Hunter — the residual impact of the 2023 gentleman’s sweep remains.
“It definitely humbled us,” Darius Garland said when asked by The Post at All-Star weekend. “But it was definitely a learning experience, and you’re seeing the product of that right now. It definitely helped us a lot.”
Atkinson wasn’t around for the playoff embarrassment but knows it’s a lingering conversation among his players. .
“They remember. I’m sure our players remember. They talk about it,” the coach said. “It’s not a playoff game [Friday night], but this is a team that took you out. How are you gonna perform against them? Are you gonna be ready for them?”
The Cavs certainly were ready to right that wrong.
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They dog-walked the Knicks, who were missing Josh Hart for a second straight game with right knee pain.
New York’s silver lining is a fast opportunity to change the narrative with Sunday afternoon’s game in Boston.
But that also could just further the idea the Knicks transform into practice cones against the best teams.
Especially if they resemble Friday night’s defensive atrocity.