Donovan Mitchell expected better of himself in his first career playoff games in his hometown, and he certainly was blunt in the self-assessment of his performance in the Cavaliers’ 102-93 loss Sunday to the Knicks.

“I played like s–t,” Mitchell said after the Knicks grabbed a 3-1 series lead heading back to Cleveland for Game 5.

The Westchester County product and four-time All-Star was smothered by the Knicks in Game 4, limiting him to 11 points on 5-for-18 from the floor with no 3-point makes in four attempts.

“For me specifically they threw a bunch of different things at me and sometimes it’s making the simple play, and trusting your teammates,” Mitchell said. “I didn’t do a good job of that today, I’ll be better. … I’m the leader of this group. Everybody did their job and I didn’t, simple as that and I’ll fix it.

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This wasn’t the wire-to-wire joyride, the opening-tap-to-final-buzzer jamboree they’d enjoyed two nights earlier. It looked like it might go that way for a while. For a while the Knicks were just clobbering the Cavaliers, bullying them, knocking them all around Madison Square Garden to the sublime delight of 19,812 of their friends.

Jalen Brunson made a step-back 26-footer midway through the second quarter to push the Knicks’ lead to 15, and the Cavs called timeout, and Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Jones and the rest of an overstuffed Celebrity Row and everyone else in the house were on their feet. It was all so shockingly easy.

And then, not shockingly, it was gone. The Cavs punched back. Across the first part of the third quarter Darius Garland took over the game and for the first time we heard nerves at the Garden, the kind of quiet pall that sneaks in whenever one of The Other Guys starts to ruin the script, Garland making like Michael/Reggie/Trae, all the ghosts of trespassers past.

A funny thing happened then.

The Knicks showed they had a chin.

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The Knicks lauded the atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden following their Game 4 win over the Cavaliers.

The win gave the Knicks a 3-1 series lead.

After splitting the first two games of the series, the Knicks won both games at home.

"I've been with a lot of teams and in a lot of arenas, and there is nothing like The Garden," coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after the game.

The Knicks briefly struggled in the opening minutes of the second half, and they saw their nine-point halftime lead shrink and allowed the Cavaliers to momentarily take the lead.

RJ Barrett credited the crowd for helping get them back on track.

"Especially when we are going on those runs, it helps us even more," Barrett told reporters after the game. "The crowd, they just help us get back in the game. They really threw a crazy punch there in the third [quarter]."

Julius Randle did not speak to the media following the Knicks' Game 4 win over the Cavaliers.

It was another struggle for Julius Randle, who finished with just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and 0-for-4 shooting from 3-point range.

Most notably, Randle was benched for the entire fourth quarter, with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau largely rolling with Obi Toppin instead.

The Knicks owned a seven-point advantage in the fourth quarter, making Thibodeau's decision successful.

Randle has struggled in the series, and he scored just 11 points on 3-of-15 shooting in the Knicks’ Game 3 win.

Although Randle didn't speak, Thibodeau spoke about the decision to bench Randle following the game.

"Julius is our horse," Thibodeau told reporters. "Most players probably wouldn’t be playing (right now)."

Randle returned for the first-round series after missing the end of the regular season with a sprained ankle.

Jalen Brunson was coy when asked about one of the celebrations he unveiled after he drilled a 3-pointer.

He nailed the 3-pointer with just under two minutes left in the game, giving the Knicks a 97-87 lead in the process.

Brunson brought his right hand to his face and covered his nose as he ran back to the other side of the court.

"Don't worry about it," Brunson answered when asked in his on-court interview about the celebration following the Game 4 win.

Just as they did following their Game 3 win Friday night, Knicks fans took to the Manhattan streets following their 102-93 Game 4 win over the Cavaliers Sunday afternoon.

Sunday's win gave the Knicks a 3-1 series lead.

Knicks fans took over the iconic Seventh Avenue, chanting "Knicks in Five."

The celebrations are likely just getting started for the day.

The Knicks are one win away from the second round.

Jalen Brunson scored 29 points and RJ Barrett scored 26 points in the Knicks’ 102-93 win over the Cavaliers at MSG on Sunday in Game 4 of the first-round series to take a 3-1 series lead.

Julius Randle sat during the fourth quarter at a raucous Madison Square Garden as the Knicks took control.

Brunson shot 11-for-22 and had six assists and six rebounds.

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Julius Randle was benched for the entire fourth quarter.

It was a daring decision from Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, but it worked to perfection.

After leading by two points entering the fourth quarter, the Knicks won 102-93, owning a seven-point advantage in the fourth quarter with Randle on the bench.

Randle played every minute of the third quarter, and the Cavaliers outscored the Knicks by seven points as a result.

Obi Toppin played in Randle's place.

Randle had seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and just one assist.

It's the second straight game he's struggled mightily, as he scored just 11 points on 3-of-15 shooting in the Knicks' Game 3 win.

It's made the Knicks wins in the last two games even more impressive.

Regardless, the Knicks need to get Randle back on track going forward.

The Knicks beat the Cavaliers 102-93 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5 is on Wednesday in Cleveland.

Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 29 points, while RJ Barrett poured in 26 points as well.

Julius Randle was benched for the entire fourth quarter, as Knicks coach Tom Thubodeau rolled with Obi Toppin instead.

Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell scored just 11 points.

Evan Mobley fouled out with 1:13 left to play.

He fouled RJ Barrett, who hit one of his two free throws to give the Knicks a 98-87 lead.

Mobley had 12 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes before fouling out.

The Knicks regained a nine-point lead -- the advantage they had at halftime -- with 5:21 left to play.

Josh Hart's driving layup put the Knicks up 90-81, and the Cavaliers called a timeout in an effort to regroup.

Julius Randle has been on the bench for the entire fourth quarter thus far amid his struggles, and the Knicks have subsequently put themselves back in command of the game.

Obi Toppin has been on the court in Randle's place, and has made his presence felt on both ends of the court.

Julius Randle, who has been woeful throughout the game, started the fourth quarter on the bench, and remained there through at least the first five minutes.

Obi Toppin is playing in his place.

Randle's woes have continued in Game 4 with just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting, and he's struggled of the defensive end as well.

It will be interesting if Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau puts in Randle for the closing minutes, or if he continues to roll with Toppin on the floor.