Knicks go 2-0 vs Cavs after second-half surge
MANILA, Philippines — The New York Knicks used an explosive third-quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 109-93, on Thursday (Friday Manila time) and take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
With Knicks star Jalen Brunson enduring a tough shooting night, Josh Hart led the Knicks with a career playoff-high 26 points.
Brunson, who spearheaded the Knicks' stunning comeback from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit in a Game 1 overtime win, scored just two points in the first half but finished with 19.
He also handed out a career playoff-high 14 of the Knicks' 32 assists.
Hart, who made five of the Knicks' 13 3-pointers, dished out seven assists himself.
Mikal Bridges scored 19 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 13 rebounds.
With another win at the Madison Square Garden, the Knicks took control in the best-of-seven series before it shifts to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday (Sunday and Monday in Manila, respectively).
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and James Harden added 18 for the Cavs, who cut an 18-point third-quarter deficit to seven early in the fourth quarter only for the Knicks to surge away again.
The winner of the series will take on either the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
The Thunder and Spurs are knotted at 1-1 in the Western Conference finals.
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