Knicks lead Cavaliers 2-0 in East

The New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals with a 109-93 win at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. New York carried that result into a series shift to Cleveland after opening the matchup with a comeback win in Game 1. NBA.com said the Knicks have now won nine straight playoff games, leaving them two victories from the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. ESPN’s playoff schedule says the NBA Finals are set to begin June 3 on ABC. ### How did New York get to 2-0 so quickly? Thursday’s result was more straightforward than the opener. NBA.com’s game recap said the Knicks beat Cleveland 109-93 in Game 2, with Josh Hart highlighted as the player of the night and Jalen Brunson handing out a playoff career-high 14 assists. Fox Sports’ game log showed New York used an 18-0 run in the third quarter to turn control of the game firmly in its favor. (nba.com) Game 1 was the swing point of the series. The Athletic reported New York overcame a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit in a 115-104 overtime win, a rally it described as the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in the playoffs since 2000 and the biggest playoff comeback in Knicks franchise history. The same report said the Knicks outscored Cleveland 14-3 in overtime after forcing the extra period. (nba.com) ### What did Cleveland lose in Game 2? Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points in Game 2, according to NBA.com’s game summary, but Cleveland could not match New York’s balance. The same summary listed James Harden with 18 points for the Cavaliers and quoted Mitchell saying, “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.” (nytimes.com) Cleveland.com said the Cavaliers were “outclassed” in the 109-93 loss and now trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. NBA.com’s playoff page said Cleveland will try to recover from a 2-0 deficit for the second straight round. (nba.com) ### Which Knicks have defined the series so far? Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson were central to Game 2. NBA.com’s takeaways story said Hart “grabs the spotlight” in the win, while Brunson ceded the ball more often and helped drive the offense with 14 assists. The same report said New York’s starting lineup delivered the edge that put the Knicks two wins from the Finals. (cleveland.com) Mikal Bridges also featured in the postgame coverage. NBA.com’s Eastern Conference finals video page listed both Bridges and Brunson among the Knicks players speaking to reporters after the win, underscoring the role of New York’s starters in the first two games. (nba.com) ### What changes as the series moves to Ohio? Game 3 will be played in Cleveland on Saturday, according to NBA.com’s game summary. That gives the Cavaliers the next two games on their home floor if the series reaches Game 4, and it gives Cleveland its first chance to cut into the deficit after New York held serve at Madison Square Garden. (nba.com) ESPN’s playoff hub says the 2026 NBA Finals begin June 3 on ABC. For now, the immediate schedule is set: New York goes to Cleveland with a 2-0 lead, and the Cavaliers return home needing a response to keep the series from slipping further away. (espn.com) (nba.com)