New York Knicks used an explosive third-quarter to beat Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday and take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
With Knicks star Jalen Brunson enduring a tough shooting night, Josh Hart led the Knicks with a career playoff high 26 points.
Brunson, who spearheaded the Knicks’ stunning comeback from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit in a game one overtime win, scored just two points in the first half but finished with 19
He also handed out a career playoff high 14 of the Knicks’ 32 assists.
Hart, who made five of the Knicks’ 13 three-pointers, dished out seven assists himself.
Mikal Bridges scored 19 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 13 rebounds, and with another win at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks took control in the best-of-seven series before it shifts to Cleveland for games three and four on Saturday and Monday.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and James Harden added 18 for the Cavs, who cut an 18-point third-quarter deficit to seven early in the fourth quarter only for the Knicks to surge away again.
The winner of the series will take on either the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
The Thunder and Spurs are knotted at 1-1 in the Western Conference finals.
Published on May 22, 2026