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Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

Charles Barkley blasts Cavaliers for how they ‘quit’ in Game 4

The Cavaliers are headed home, and Charles Barkley has an idea why

Screenshot 2026-05-25 at 10.43.41 PM
Screenshot 2026-05-25 at 10.43.41 PM
Mark Schofield
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.

The New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are headed home.

New York closed out the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night, winning Game 4 by a final score of 130-93 to complete the four-game sweep of the Cavaliers.

And Charles Barkley pointed to a lack of “effort,” and how the team “quit” in the first half of Game 4 as a major reason why.

Facing elimination at home against the Knicks in Game 4, the Cavaliers were on the wrong end of a 20-0 run from the Knicks, as New York built a 68-49 halftime lead. And during the halftime show, Barkley “requested special time” to address what he saw in the first half:

After Barkley provided the definition of quit — which included a notation to “see also: Cavaliers in Game 4 vs. Knicks” — the show aired several clips from the first half of Knicks players beating Cleveland defenders back down the court for fast-break points.

“This is just effort here,” began Barkley as the montage of Knicks players rolling up fast-break points aired during the halftime break.

“Players ain’t gonna say they’re gonna quit, but you know what shows? Their actions,” continued Barkley.

By the time Game 4 drew to a close, New York had outrebounded Cleveland 60-33, and had scored 33 fast-break points, compared to just nine for Cleveland.

And those watching at home were treated to a vocabulary lesson, courtesy of Charles Barkley.

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