In the New York Knicks offense, anyone can get going on the right night. Jalen Brunson was unstoppable when it mattered most in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Josh Hart was next in line.
Against the Cavaliers in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, the veteran guard tallied 26 points, four rebounds, and seven assists, going 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. His jump shot was automatic in the third quarter, scoring 12 of his 26 points and getting three long-range shots to fall.
And as he cooled down, Brunson sealed the 109-93 win with 10 fourth quarter points to round out a 19 points and 14 assists performance. The All-Star guard’s efforts were integral to fighting off a Cavaliers comeback effort and securing his team’s eighth straight playoff win.
Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby played key roles in the final stanza, combining for 10 points against Cleveland. Bridges ended with 19 points, while Anunoby posted 14. Karl-Anthony Towns glued together the lineup, scoring 18 points and snagging 13 rebounds.
Their collective efforts came on an evening when they shot 52% (44-for-58) from the field and 36% (13-for-36) from long range. The Knicks’ defense held Donovan Mitchell to 26 points and James Harden to 18. New York also forced eight turnovers on top of recording five blocks and five steals against the Cavaliers.
The end-of-game mojo from Game 1 carried over for the Knicks, with Brunson and Towns scoring five to start the first quarter. The Cavaliers posted eight points in response to take an early lead. Cleveland remained ahead by getting shots to fall at the basket, as New York came up empty-handed on consecutive possessions. To end the quarter, Mitchell connected on a long-range shot that kept his team ahead by three.
Towns opened the second stanza with four points to tie the game. Bridges converted on consecutive trips to the basket, as Anunoby scored four. Hart then received the hot hand, drilling a corner three and spinning to the basket for a layup. As one Knick got going, Anunoby nailed a long-range shot. Hart got another triple to fall, giving his team a four-point lead at halftime before taking over the third quarter.
Brunson swished his first three to start the third before finding Hart on a wide-open dunk. Brunson got another shot to fall, as Bridges went the length to score on a fast break. “Captain Clutch” scored another, and Hart knocked down two triples, increasing the Knicks’ lead to double digits. Moments later, Hart drained another from the corner and forced a stop. Towns got the next long ball to fall, with New York entering the final 12 minutes ahead 15.
The Cavaliers put up a fight to start the fourth, shaving seven points from the Knicks’ lead. Anunoby went deep in response, as Bridges scored five. Brunson put his name in the mix before Hart converted on a one-handed shot. Brunson tallied another six, once again extending New York’s lead to eventually seal their second win of the series.
After putting the finishing touches on the victory, the Knicks need two more wins to put away the Cavaliers and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. But like all road playoff games, that will be easier said than done going into Game 3 on Saturday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
