Knicks beat Cavaliers in Game 2 to take 2-0 Eastern Conference finals lead

The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday, May 21, at Madison Square Garden to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Josh Hart scored 26 points and Jalen Brunson added 19 points with 14 assists as New York won its ninth straight game. The result left the Knicks two wins from their first NBA Finals berth since 1999, with Game 3 set for Saturday in Cleveland. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin June 3. ### How did New York take control again after the Game 1 comeback? New York led by double digits in the second half and, unlike Cleveland in Game 1, did not give the margin back. NBA.com’s live recap said the Knicks’ starting lineup combined for 96 points and 12 made 3-pointers as they pulled away at home. Josh Hart gave New York its biggest scoring lift. Hart finished with 26 points and made five 3-pointers, while Brunson ran the offense with 14 assists. NBA.com said Brunson “willingly gives up the ball” to create chances for teammates, and Game 2 reflected that balance. ### Which numbers best explain the scoreline? The 109-93 final underlined a cleaner finish from New York after Cleveland stayed close early. Fox Sports’ box score listed Donovan Mitchell with 26 points for Cleveland, but the Cavaliers could not match the Knicks’ production across the lineup. The Knicks’ nine-game winning streak is now one of the clearest markers of their form. CBS Sports said the streak pushed New York to within two wins of the Finals, and Yahoo Sports reported the Knicks carried momentum from their Game 1 finish into another home victory. ### What did Game 2 show about Hart and Brunson? Hart’s 26 points turned him into the top scorer in a game that also featured Brunson’s playmaking. NBA.com said Hart “grabs the spotlight,” while Brunson’s 14 assists showed New York could lean on distribution as much as isolation scoring. Brunson did not need a huge scoring night for the Knicks to control the game. Fox Sports listed him at 19 points, and the combination of his passing with Hart’s perimeter shooting gave New York enough offense to keep Cleveland from making a late run. ### What is Cleveland facing going back home? Cleveland now trails 2-0 as the series shifts to Ohio for Game 3 on Saturday, May 23. NBA.com said before the game that the Cavaliers needed more from Evan Mobley, and the team now returns home needing a response to avoid a 3-0 deficit. Donovan Mitchell continued to score, finishing with 26 points, but Cleveland’s offense fell short again. The Cavaliers scored 93 points in Game 2 after giving away Game 1 late, leaving them with little margin as the series moves off Madison Square Garden. ### How close are the Knicks to the Finals now? The Knicks are two wins away from the NBA Finals after taking both games in New York. CBS Sports said New York is now 2-0 up in the East finals, while the official NBA playoff schedule lists June 3 for Game 1 of the Finals. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, in Cleveland, followed by Game 4 on Monday, May 25, according to playoff schedules published by Yahoo Sports and other outlets. If needed, Game 5 would return to New York on May 27, with the Finals beginning June 3. (nba.com)