Knicks pull away in third, get 26 points from Josh Hart, comfortably win 109-93, take 2-0 series lead
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The New York Knicks dominated the third quarter with an 18-0 run, leading to a 109-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals series.
- Josh Hart overcame his Game 1 struggles to score a playoff career-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers, earning praise from Knicks coach Mike Brown.
- The Knicks' starting five—Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns—played heavy minutes and achieved a +27.7 net rating, with Brunson contributing 19 points and 14 assists.
- Cleveland struggled offensively, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 26 points despite playing through pain, and James Harden underperforming with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
- New York's aggressive offense, especially in the paint, and effective ball movement during Cleveland’s double-teams on Brunson, were key factors in their third-quarter surge and overall victory.