The New York Knicks are suddenly just two victories away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, after a commanding 109-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Josh Hart, who apparently decided the playoffs were the perfect time to find his long-range shot, dropped a playoff-best 26 points.
Jalen Brunson, ever the maestro, added 19 points and 14 assists. This victory marks the Knicks' ninth straight win in the postseason, a streak so impressive it hasn't been seen since the 2024 Boston Celtics (which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly confusing given the current timeline).
Hart's Redemption Arc
Hart, who had been shooting a rather uninspiring 26.7% from beyond the arc, decided Game 2 was the moment to defy all expectations, sinking 5 of 11 three-pointers. This was despite a Cavaliers defensive strategy that seemed to be actively inviting him to shoot. Which, in hindsight, might need a re-evaluation.
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Start Your News DetoxKnicks coach Mike Brown, clearly impressed, called it "just a whale of a game from Josh." Meanwhile, the Knicks, after staging a 22-point comeback in Game 1, took control early in Game 2 with an 18-0 third-quarter run. This pushed their lead to a comfortable 71-53, prompting fans to confidently chant "Knicks in four!" in the final minute. Someone might want to remind them it's a seven-game series.
Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell put up 26 points, and James Harden added 18, but the Cavs now find themselves in a 2-0 hole for the second consecutive round. Mitchell, ever the optimist, declared, "Nothing to hang our head about. They protected home court, and we’ve seen this before so we’re going to go to Game 3."
Brunson, after a quiet two points in the first half, launched the game-changing run with a three-pointer, eventually racking up his highest assist total in a playoff game. Hart, who had been benched for much of Game 1's rally, admitted to frustration after missing an early long-range shot in Game 2 but stated, "I knew I had to just keep shooting and if I did that I’d be good." Turns out, he was.
The Cavaliers, on the other hand, struggled mightily at the free-throw line, missing 10 shots and finishing at a less-than-stellar 68.8%. Harden summed up their woes succinctly: "It’s difficult when you’re not making shots. It puts twice as much pressure on you defensively to get stops." Indeed. Now, off to Cleveland, where the Cavs will try to turn the tide and silence those "Knicks in four!" chants.
