The New York Knicks moved two wins from the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden.
Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points and sparked a decisive third-quarter surge as New York took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Jalen Brunson added 19 points and 14 assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
The Knicks seized control with an 18-0 run in the third quarter after Cleveland briefly cut the deficit to four. Hart scored nine points during the burst, helping New York turn a competitive game into another double-digit postseason victory.
Cleveland struggled offensively for long stretches, shooting 9 for 35 from 3-point range. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26 points, but the Knicks limited support around him. Evan Mobley scored 14 points in the first half before going scoreless after halftime and failing to attempt a shot in the final two quarters.
Brunson, Cleveland’s primary defensive focus throughout the night, shifted into a facilitator role and recorded a playoff career high in assists. Mikal Bridges added 19 points for New York, and OG Anunoby contributed 14 points and three blocks as the Knicks continued a postseason run built on depth and defense.
New York has now won nine straight playoff games, with eight victories coming by double digits. According to Reuters, the Knicks also own the best point differential through 12 postseason games in NBA playoff history at plus-221.
Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday night in Cleveland.
