Knicks crush Cavaliers in Game 2, take commanding 2-0 lead in series behind Josh Hart's career night

The New York Knicks didn’t request a historical comeback to instrumentality Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals from the Cleveland Cavaliers connected Thursday.

Instead, it was a ascendant triumph successful regulation, 109-93, arsenic the Knicks instrumentality a commanding 2-0 pb successful the best-of-seven bid to Cleveland this weekend.

There was nary hangover for the Cavaliers to statesman the game, arsenic they owned a 27-24 pb astatine the extremity of the archetypal quarter. But the Knicks recovered their mode into the pb by halftime.

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Josh Hart of the New York Knicks dribbles the shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 3rd 4th successful Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected May 21, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

It was the 3rd 4th wherever New York started to propulsion away, getting the pb up to 18 points arsenic the Madison Square Garden assemblage went ballistic. The Knicks went connected an 18-0 tally astatine 1 constituent arsenic well, which was reminiscent of Game 1’s fourth-quarter comeback.

However, Cleveland wasn’t letting disconnected the state contempt the deficit. The Cavaliers chopped the 18-point pb successful fractional with astir 8:30 near successful the 4th quarter, arsenic New York struggled to bargain a basket.

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But erstwhile OG Anunoby knocked down a three-pointer from the near wing, things were backmost to mean for the Knicks crowd.

Mikal Bridges, who had a stellar nighttime connected some ends of the floor, deed a wide-open 3 with 6:12 remaining successful the 4th that got the pb backmost up to 13 for the Knicks, and they would seashore from there.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrates aft making a handbasket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 3rd 4th successful Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected May 21, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson, the team’s All-Star constituent guard, was phenomenal successful the comeback connected Tuesday night, dropping 38 points. But Cleveland made their crippled program known close distant successful this matchup, putting unit connected him to the constituent wherever he’d beryllium giving up the stone successful double-teams.

As a result, the Cavaliers were good with Josh Hart taking shots instead. While the program seemed to enactment successful the archetypal fractional a bit, Hart recovered his groove successful the 2nd and acceptable a caller vocation precocious with a team-high 26 points connected 10-of-21 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. He besides got connected the committee with 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.

Meanwhile, Brunson tallied 19 points and dished retired a playoff career-high 14 assists for New York. And erstwhile again, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, playing efficiently for Mike Brown’s Knicks.

With the pb backmost up to 18 for the Knicks, each starters were pulled with nether 2 minutes to play, arsenic the assemblage gave their squad a lasting ovation for a occupation good done.

The Knicks changeable 52% from the tract and lone saw 14 foul shots each crippled long, but they held the Cavaliers to conscionable 39% shooting arsenic a team. Cleveland besides failed to capitalize connected cardinal escaped throws precocious successful the game, arsenic they were successful the bonus with implicit 9 minutes to play. As a team, they changeable conscionable 69% (22-of-32) from the foundation stripe.

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 3rd 4th successful Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected May 21, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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Evan Mobley besides had 14 points successful the archetypal half, but helium curiously didn't instrumentality a azygous changeable successful the 2nd fractional for Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell matched Hart's 26 points, though helium changeable 8-of-18. James Harden besides went 6-of-15 for 18 points.

With the win, the Knicks person present won 9 consecutive playoff games.

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