Knicks beat Cavaliers to take 2-0 lead in East finals

NEW YORK: The New York Knicks moved into a commanding position in the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Thursday, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 to open up a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

New York took control with a dominant third quarter after leading 53-49 at halftime. Cleveland briefly drew level at 53-53, but the Knicks then produced an 18-0 run to build a 71-53 advantage. The Cavaliers went more than five minutes without scoring in the third period and were behind 85-70 going into the fourth.

Josh Hart delivered a standout display for the Knicks, scoring a career playoff-high 26 points and making five of New York's 13 three-pointers. He also contributed seven assists. Jalen Brunson, who had managed only two points in the first half, recovered to finish with 19 points and a career playoff-high 14 assists out of the Knicks' 32 total. Mikal Bridges added 19 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

After the game, Hart said he was pleased not only with the scoring output but with his willingness to keep shooting after a slow start from long range.

It felt good.

Hart told ESPN.

The thing I'm most happy about is I started zero for three from (three-point range), and I just kept shooting.

I'm putting the work in, and it's kind of built that confidence. So it felt good.

Knicks coach Mike Brown praised Hart's performance and described it as a major contribution in a crucial playoff game.

He's a gamer.

Brown said after calling it a whale of a game from Hart.

When you have guys that are gamers they do stuff that people don't think that they can do at any time.

The Cavaliers were led by Donovan Mitchell with 26 points, while James Harden scored 18. Cleveland had started solidly and held a 27-24 lead after the opening quarter, but could not maintain momentum once New York found its rhythm in the second half. The Cavs later reduced an 18-point third-quarter deficit to seven early in the fourth quarter, only for the Knicks to pull away again.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said his side had generated enough opportunities but failed to convert them.

I thought we had a lot of good looks, a lot of good looks from (three-point range), good looks at the rim.

Atkinson said.

(We) took care of the ball, offensive rebounds.

It wasn't a great shooting night.

At the end of the day, you've got to put the ball in the hole. Tonight we didn't.

Mitchell echoed that assessment and said he was not concerned by Cleveland's offensive process.

We just didn't make shots.

Mitchell said.

I loved everything about the looks we got.

Some days you just miss the open ones.

The series now shifts to Cleveland for games three and four on Saturday and Monday. The Cavaliers return home facing heavy pressure, with no NBA team having ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.

Hart said the Knicks would not allow their strong run to affect their approach, even after recording a ninth straight playoff victory. He noted that Cleveland had also lost the first two games on the road before winning their seven-game second-round series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

We know they're going to have a sense of urgency, a sense of desperation.

Hart said.

We can't just match it, we have to exceed it.

The winner of the series will advance to the NBA Finals to face either the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs. That Western Conference finals series is tied at 1-1.