Knicks extend playoff winning streak to nine games

The New York Knicks extended their playoff winning streak to nine games on May 21 with a 109-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. The victory gave New York a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and moved the team to within two wins of the NBA Finals, according to NBA.com and ESPN. Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points, and all five Knicks starters scored at least 18, NBA.com said. The run has drawn broader historical framing from national outlets, with CBS Sports writing that New York “might be on the best nine-game run in NBA history” and Yardbarker saying the club had reached “historic territory.” ### How did the Knicks get to nine straight playoff wins? New York entered the Eastern Conference finals after winning six straight postseason games, then added Game 1 and Game 2 against Cleveland to reach nine in a row, according to Yardbarker and NBA.com. ESPN’s playoff bracket shows the Knicks beat Atlanta in the first round and Philadelphia in the second round before opening the conference finals against Cleveland. (nba.com) Yardbarker said the streak is the longest playoff winning streak in franchise history. The outlet also said the Knicks shot 53.6% from the field during the nine-game stretch and posted a 61.7 effective field-goal percentage, which it described as the highest ever for such a span. (yardbarker.com) ### What happened in Game 2 against Cleveland? Josh Hart led New York with 26 points in the 109-93 win on May 21 at Madison Square Garden, according to NBA.com. Karl-Anthony Towns also helped power the Knicks, NBA.com’s live recap said, as New York pulled away to take a 2-0 series lead. NBA.com’s takeaways piece said all five Knicks starters scored at least 18 points after the starting lineup had struggled in Game 1. (yardbarker.com) The same report said Hart’s 26 points were the most of his 55-game playoff career. ### Why are analysts describing this run in historic terms? CBS Sports wrote on May 22 that the Knicks were on “arguably the best nine-game stretch in NBA history,” citing a run of playoff blowouts and sustained offensive efficiency. (nba.com) The outlet also raised a separate question about the relative strength of the Eastern Conference, but the historical comparison itself was framed around New York’s results and margins. (nba.com) Yardbarker used similar language, saying New York had reached “historic territory” during the streak. Its report pointed to the franchise-record nine straight playoff wins and the team’s shooting numbers across the span. ### How close are the Knicks to the NBA Finals? (cbssports.com) The Knicks hold a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals, which means they are two wins from taking the series and reaching the NBA Finals. NBC Connecticut, cited in the source briefing, said it would be the second straight season in which New York stood two victories from the Finals. ESPN’s playoff coverage says the 2026 NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 3. (yardbarker.com) ESPN’s bracket page lists Cleveland as New York’s conference-finals opponent after the Cavaliers advanced from the East semifinals. The series remains in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the better seed hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, ESPN said. ### When is the next game in the series? (espn.com) Game 3 between the Knicks and Cavaliers is scheduled for May 23 in Cleveland, according to Sofascore’s schedule listing. NBA.com’s playoff hub and ESPN’s postseason coverage both show the Eastern Conference finals continuing this weekend as New York tries to extend the streak beyond nine games. (sofascore.com) (espn.com)