NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The New York Knicks didn’t need a historic comeback to take Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
Instead, it was a dominant victory in regulation, 109-93, as the Knicks take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series to Cleveland this weekend.
There was no hangover for the Cavaliers to begin the game as they owned a 27-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. But the Knicks found their way to the lead at halftime.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Josh Hart of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter of Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 21, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
It was the third quarter when New York started to pull away, getting the lead up to 18 points as the Madison Square Garden crowd went ballistic. The Knicks also went on an 18-0 run at one point, reminiscent of Game 1’s fourth-quarter comeback.
However, Cleveland did not let off the gas despite the deficit. The Cavaliers cut an 18-point lead in half with about 8:30 left in the fourth quarter as New York struggled to buy a basket.
KNICKS STORM BACK TO SHOCK CAVS IN GAME 1 AS JAMES HARDEN’S DEFENSIVE PLAY COMES UNDER LIGHTNING
But when OG Anunoby knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing, things were back to normal for the Knicks crowd.
Mikal Bridges, who had a great night on both ends of the floor, hit a wide-open three with 6:12 left in the fourth to get the lead back to 13 for the Knicks, and they would run from there.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrates after making a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter of Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 21, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Jalen Brunson, the team’s All-Star point guard, was phenomenal in the comeback Tuesday night, dropping 38 points. But Cleveland made their game plan known right away in this game, putting pressure on him to the point where he would give up the rock in double teams.
As a result, the Cavaliers were fine with Josh Hart taking shots instead. While the plan seemed to work a little in the first half, Hart found his groove in the second and set a new career high with a team-high 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. He also got on the board with seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Meanwhile, Brunson tallied 19 points and dished out a playoff career-high 14 assists for New York. And once again, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, playing effectively for Mike Brown’s Knicks.
With the lead back to 18 for the Knicks, all starters were pulled with under two minutes to play as the crowd gave their team a standing ovation for a job well done.
The Knicks shot 52% from the field and saw just 14 foul shots all game, but they held the Cavaliers to just 39% shooting as a team. Cleveland also failed to capitalize on key free throws late in the game when they were in the bonus with over nine minutes to play. As a team, they shot just 69% (22-of-32) from the charity stripe.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter of Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 21, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Evan Mobley also had 14 points in the first half, but strangely, he didn’t take a single shot in the second half for Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell matched Hart’s 26 points, though he shot 8-of-18. James Harden also went 6-of-15 for 18 points.
With the win, the Knicks have now won nine playoff games in a row.
