Knicks take 2-0 series lead after Game 2 win over Cavaliers

The New York Knicks left Madison Square Garden on Thursday two wins from the NBA Finals after a 109-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points, Jalen Brunson had 19 points and 14 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 13 rebounds, according to NBA.com and an Associated Press game report carried by CBS Sports. The win gave New York a 2-0 series lead after its overtime comeback in Game 1 on Tuesday. Cleveland got 26 points from Donovan Mitchell and 18 from James Harden, but the Cavaliers were outscored decisively in the second half. ### How did New York turn a tie game into a 16-point win? The third quarter decided the game. Cleveland opened the half by erasing a 53-49 halftime deficit and tying the score at 53-53, but Brunson answered with a 3-pointer that started an 18-0 Knicks run, CBS Sports reported. By the time the burst ended, New York led 71-53 and had full control of the night. (nba.com) Josh Hart drove much of that stretch. Hart scored nine points during the 18-0 run, according to Reuters coverage published by GMA Network, and finished 5-for-11 from 3-point range after entering the night in a shooting slump from deep. The Knicks’ starting lineup combined for 96 points and 12 made 3-pointers, NBA.com said in its recap. (cbssports.com) ### Why was Hart the central figure after Game 1? Hart’s turnaround stood out because his role changed sharply from the opener. CBS Sports reported that Hart had been benched during the Game 1 rally, playing only three combined minutes in the fourth quarter and overtime, then responded in Game 2 with his highest playoff scoring total. (gmanetwork.com) Mike Brown made that point after the game. “Just a whale of a game from Josh,” the Knicks coach said, according to the AP report carried by CBS Sports. Hart said he kept shooting through the misses: “I knew I had to just keep shooting and if I did that I’d be good.” ### How much pressure is now on Cleveland? (cbssports.com) The Cavaliers now face the same deficit they saw in the previous round. CBS Sports reported that Cleveland will have to climb out of a 2-0 hole for the second straight series after dropping both games in New York. Donovan Mitchell tried to keep the focus on the shift in venue. “Nothing to hang our head about,” Mitchell said, according to CBS Sports. “They protected home court, and we’ve seen this before so we’re going to go to Game 3.” Mitchell scored 26 points in Game 2, but Cleveland shot 38.8% from the field and 25.7% from 3-point range, NBA.com’s box score showed. (cbssports.com) ### How does this follow the Game 1 comeback? Tuesday’s opener had already changed the tone of the series. CBS Sports said the Knicks erased a 22-point deficit with less than eight minutes left before winning 115-104 in overtime, outscoring Cleveland 14-3 in the extra period. The Athletic described it as the largest playoff comeback in Knicks franchise history and the second-largest fourth-quarter playoff comeback since 2000. (cbssports.com) Thursday’s result removed the need for another late rescue. New York led 53-49 at halftime, broke the game open in the third, and heard fans chanting “Knicks in four!” in the final minute, CBS Sports reported. ### What comes next in the series? Game 3 will be played Saturday in Cleveland. (nytimes.com) CBS Sports said the Cavaliers host the next game as they try to avoid falling into a 3-0 deficit, while the Knicks seek their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. New York is now 10-2 in the postseason, according to Yahoo Sports’ playoff schedule page. (cbssports.com)