The New York Knicks delivered a decisive second-half surge, rattling off 18 consecutive points to break open a tied game and secure a 109-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the win at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks now hold a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference final.
After the score stood deadlocked at 53-53, New York flipped a switch. A relentless defensive stand paired with sharp outside shooting fueled the 18-0 run, pushing the Knicks ahead 71-53. From there, they never looked back, extending their winning streak to nine games overall.
Josh Hart powered the home side with a playoff career-high 26 points, including five three-pointers. Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense with 19 points and 14 assists, while Mikal Bridges added 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 18. The balanced attack underscored the team’s unselfish mentality.
For the Knicks, who last reached the NBA Finals in 1999 and haven’t won a championship since 1973, this playoff run has sparked renewed hope among fans.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 26 points, and James Harden contributed 18, but the Cavaliers could not contain New York’s momentum.
The loss puts Cleveland in a familiar position – they trailed 2-0 against the Detroit Pistons in the previous round before rallying to win the series 4-3.
Games 3 and 4 shift to Cleveland on Saturday and Monday. The winner of this series will face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs.
