The New York Knicks are now two wins away from reaching their first NBA Finals since 1999 after rolling past the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden to grab a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York broke the game open in the third quarter with a dominant 18-0 run that turned a close contest into a blowout. Unlike their dramatic comeback victory in Game 1, the Knicks never allowed Cleveland back into serious contention late in the game.
Josh Hart delivered one of the best playoff performances of his career, finishing with a postseason-high 26 points while adding seven assists, four rebounds, two steals, and five three-pointers. After a quieter showing in Game 1, Hart caught fire in the second half and repeatedly buried difficult shots, helping New York seize full control.
Jalen Brunson contributed 19 points and 14 assists, with 17 of his points coming after halftime. Mikal Bridges also scored 19, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double as all five Knicks starters scored in double figures.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points, while James Harden added 18. The Cavaliers struggled offensively throughout the night, shooting just 39 percent from the field and missing 10 free throws.
The victory marked New York’s ninth consecutive postseason win, the league’s longest playoff winning streak since the Boston Celtics won 10 straight during their 2024 title run.
Now facing a 2-0 deficit for the second straight playoff series, Cleveland will try to get back into contention as they head home for Game 3 on Saturday.
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