The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, according to Fox News Digital.
Cleveland led 27-24 after the first quarter, but New York had the advantage by halftime and pulled away in the third, building an 18-point lead as the Madison Square Garden crowd grew loud, Fox News Digital reported. The Knicks went on an 18-0 run during the game, the report said.
The Cavaliers cut the lead in half with about 8:30 left in the fourth quarter, but OG Anunoby’s three-pointer and a wide-open 3 by Mikal Bridges with 6:12 remaining pushed the margin back to double digits and the Knicks coasted from there, Fox News Digital reported.
Josh Hart scored a playoff-career high 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 5 of 11 from 3-point range, and added seven assists, four rebounds and two steals, according to Fox News Digital. Jalen Brunson had 19 points and a playoff career-high 14 assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted 18 points and 13 rebounds, the report said. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points; James Harden had 18 on 6-of-15 shooting, and Evan Mobley scored 14 in the first half but did not attempt a shot in the second half, Fox News Digital reported.
The Knicks shot 52 percent from the field and limited Cleveland to 39 percent, and the Cavaliers went 22 of 32 (69 percent) from the free-throw line, according to Fox News Digital. With the lead back to 18 late, New York’s starters were removed with under two minutes remaining and received a standing ovation, the report said. The victory extended the Knicks’ playoff winning streak to nine games, Fox News Digital reported.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
