The New York Knicks used an explosive third quarter to take a 2-0 lead against Cleveland in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Published May 22, 2026
Josh Hart set a playoff career high with 26 points, Jalen Brunson had 19 points and 14 assists, and the New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 to advance to the halfway mark for their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
Mikal Bridges also had 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Knicks to their ninth straight win on Thursday night.
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This is the longest NBA postseason winning streak since the Boston Celtics won 10 straight en route to the 2024 championship.
Hart made 5-of-11 3-pointers, flashing a defensive scheme that seemed built around staying open from long range, and also had seven assists.
“It was a great game from Josh,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said.
Two nights after rallying from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, the Knicks went on an 18-0 run in the third quarter to take a 71-53 lead and ensure they took control late. Fans chanted, “Knicks in four! Knicks in four!” In the final moments, long after the starters had gone to the bench.
“In our heads it’s 0-0. We have to win the next game. It’s the most important game of the year and that’s how we take it,” Towns said.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and James Harden added 18 points for the Cavaliers, who need to come back from a 2-0 deficit for the second straight game. They will host Game 3 on Saturday.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Mitchell said. “They defended their home court. We’ve seen this before, so we’re going to go into Game 3.”
The Knicks have reached the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row, but haven’t played for a championship since losing to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.
Brunson scored 38 points and contributed to the upset in Game 1. He scored just two points in the first half on Thursday, but made the game-opening first basket and had the highest assist total of his playoff career.
Hart was benched during the Game 1 rally and played just three minutes in the fourth quarter and overtime. The forward shot just 26.7 percent from 3-point range, but after missing three consecutive long-range shots early Thursday, he bit his jersey in his mouth in frustration and let the ball bounce violently three times. But he continued firing.
“I knew I just had to keep shooting and it would work out,” Hart said.
Mitchell fell behind with just seven points in the first half, further raising questions about whether he was injured after Game 1. His 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left gave Cleveland a 27-24 lead.
At halftime, the Knicks led 53-49. The Cavaliers tied the score with the first two baskets of the third, but Brunson hit a 3-pointer to start an 18-0 run. That burst led to two more, and Hart made two 3-pointers, the latter of which made it 71-53 with 5:36 left in the third. After the Cavs scored five straight points, Hart scored three more and Towns scored to restore an 18-point advantage.
Cleveland cut the score to single digits with just under eight minutes left, but poor free throw shooting ruined any chances they had to get closer, missing 10 for the game and finishing at 68.8 percent. In the end, the Knicks extended their lead to 19 points.
“It’s tough when you can’t make shots,” Harden said. “It takes twice as much pressure defensively to get a stop.”
