The New York Knicks are two wins away from their first NBA finals appearance since 1999 after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points, Jalen Brunson added 19 points and 14 assists, and the Knicks extended their winning streak to nine games.
Knicks Dominate Third Quarter
Mikal Bridges also contributed 19 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds for New York. The Knicks' nine-game postseason winning streak is the longest since the Boston Celtics won 10 straight en route to the 2024 championship.
Hart shot 5 for 11 from three-point range and dished out seven assists. Coach Mike Brown praised his performance, calling it a "whale of a game."
After rallying from a 22-point deficit in Game 1, the Knicks took control early in the third quarter with an 18-0 run, building a 71-53 lead. Fans chanted "Knicks in four!" as the starters rested in the final minute.
Cavaliers Face 2-0 Deficit Again
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points, and James Harden added 18. The Cavaliers must overcome a 2-0 deficit for the second consecutive round. Game 3 is Saturday in Cleveland.
"Nothing to hang our head about," Mitchell said. "They protected home court, and we've seen this before."
Brunson, who scored 38 points in Game 1, had only two points in the first half Thursday but sparked the decisive run and finished with a playoff career-high in assists. Hart overcame early shooting struggles, including a frustrated reaction after missing three straight three-pointers, to deliver a key performance.
Cleveland cut the deficit to single digits late but missed 10 free throws, finishing at 68.8% from the line. The Knicks eventually pushed their lead to 19 points.
