NEW YORK — The New York Knicks rode a third-quarter burst sparked by Josh Hart to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday night, seizing a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals.
Hart, left unguarded for long stretches, shrugged off an 0-for-3 start from deep and drilled three consecutive three-pointers during an 18-0 run that broke open what had been a tight contest at Madison Square Garden. The swingman finished with 26 points and seven assists, helping the Knicks post their ninth straight playoff victory.
New York has not led a conference-finals series 2-0 since 1994, when it beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games to reach the NBA Finals.
Key numbers
• Josh Hart: 26 points, 7 assists
• Jalen Brunson: 17 points, playoff-high 14 assists
• Team run: 18-0 midway through third quarter
• Cavaliers shooting: 38.8% overall, 26% from three-point range
How it unfolded
Cleveland again gambled by helping off Hart in an effort to contain Brunson. The plan worked early, but after halftime Hart found his rhythm and New York’s offense opened up. “I just knew I would keep shooting,” Hart said. “If I did that, I would be good.”
Head coach Mike Brown praised Hart’s decisiveness. “He knew what he had to do in terms of adjustments,” Brown noted. “We have to play fast, so we’re not going against a set defense all the time.”
Brunson, who poured in 37 points in Game 1, shifted into facilitator mode against Cleveland’s traps, registering 14 assists while attempting only 13 shots. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson credited Brunson’s adaptability: “We loaded up on him, and he found other guys.”
Cleveland’s offensive struggles
Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, yet the Cavaliers never recovered from the momentum swing. Designated shooters Max Strus and Sam Merrill combined to go 1-for-11 from behind the arc, while the Knicks’ defense limited options inside and out.
“Sometimes you’ve got to tip your cap,” Mitchell said, pointing to Hart’s shooting surge as the game’s turning point.
The best-of-seven series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 this weekend.
Source: ESPN
