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Knicks take 2-0 East finals lead as Hart scores 26 in 109-93 win
Confirmed
What we know
The New York Knicks moved halfway to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 with a 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points after being benched late in Game 1, Jalen Brunson added 19 points and 14 assists, and New York sealed the game with an 18-0 third-quarter run that made it 71-53.
Mikal Bridges scored 19 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Knicks extended their postseason winning streak to nine — the NBA's longest since Boston's 10-game run in 2024. Donovan Mitchell scored 26 and James Harden 18 for Cleveland, which hosts Game 3 on Saturday needing to climb out of an 0-2 hole for the second straight round.
What's confirmed
- AP/ESPN/NBC Sports: Knicks beat Cavaliers 109-93; series lead 2-0; Hart 26 points (AP/ESPN/NBC Sports).
- AP: Brunson 19 points, 14 assists; Bridges 19; Towns 18 and 13 boards; ninth straight playoff win (AP).
- NBC Sports/ESPN: 18-0 third-quarter run broke open the game; Game 3 Saturday in Cleveland (NBC Sports/ESPN).
- AP: Mitchell 26, Harden 18 for Cleveland; Cavs must win at home to avoid a 3-0 deficit (AP).
What's still developing
- Whether Cleveland can protect home court in Game 3 after back-to-back MSG losses.
- Hart's minutes and shooting if Cleveland adjusts the leave-him-open strategy.
- How deep New York's playoff win streak can run before a potential Finals berth.