The New York Knicks are just two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999! In the second game of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers at their home arena, Madison Square Garden, by a score of 109-93, taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

A Career-Defining Game

Absolutely pivotal to the victory was Josh Hart, who put on a career-defining playoff performance, scoring 26 points. Hart was a perfect five out of eleven from beyond the arc, exposing Cleveland’s defensive strategy that left him open for shots. He also contributed seven assists.

Key Contributions

Joining Hart was Jalen Brunson, who delivered a double-double performance with 19 points and a career-high 14 assists in the play-in game, while Mikal Bridges (19 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (18 points, 13 rebounds) dominated under the basket.

The game shifted dramatically in the third quarter. Despite the Cavaliers tying the score at the start of the second half, the Knicks went on an 18-0 run, taking a commanding lead at 71-53. The crowd at the Garden was already chanting, "Knicks in four!"

In the losing side, Donovan Mitchell was the most efficient with 26 points, while James Harden added 18. However, poor shooting and a dismal performance at the free-throw line (missing 10 free throws) cost the visitors a more favorable outcome.

This win marks the Knicks' ninth consecutive victory in the playoffs, the longest streak in the NBA since the Boston Celtics’ championship run last year.

The series now heads to Ohio, with the third game scheduled for Saturday night.

(Telegraf.rs)