Key Takeaways:
- New York Knicks secured a 109-93 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers
- Josh Hart posted a playoff career-high 26 points, including 5 three-pointers from 11 attempts
- Cleveland will host Game 3 on Saturday, facing a 2-0 series deficit for the second consecutive round
Match Analysis: Knicks Extend Playoff Winning Streak
The New York Knicks moved within two wins of their first NBA Finals since 1999 after dispatching the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Josh Hart spearheaded the offence with a playoff personal best of 26 points, also contributing seven assists, and punishing Cleveland’s defensive approach with an impressive 5-from-11 shooting from beyond the arc.
Joining Hart, Jalen Brunson notched 19 points alongside a career-high 14 assists in postseason play, while Mikal Bridges also tallied 19 points. Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double as New York secured their ninth straight victory, setting the NBA’s longest playoff win streak since the Boston Celtics’ 10-game run to the 2024 championship.
ROLLIN ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/vOOE52MwjW
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 22, 2026
Decisive Third Quarter and Key Performances
After trailing in the opening quarter, the Knicks asserted control with an emphatic 18-0 surge in the third period, turning a 53-53 tie into a commanding 71-53 advantage. Brunson sparked the run with a three-pointer, and Hart buried two further shots from distance, the second of which extended the gap to 18 points with 5:36 remaining in the quarter. Though the Cavaliers briefly reduced the margin to single digits late in the fourth, their poor free-throw conversion – they made only 68.8% from the line and missed 10 overall – hampered a potential comeback.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell matched Hart’s output with 26 points, while James Harden added 18. However, Mitchell struggled early, recording just seven points by half-time, prompting renewed speculation about his fitness. Despite this, his three-pointer at the close of the first quarter gave Cleveland a 27-24 edge. Nevertheless, New York led 53-49 at the interval.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hart | Knicks | 26 | 4 | 7 |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 19 | 3 | 14 |
| Mikal Bridges | Knicks | 19 | 3 | 3 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Knicks | 18 | 13 | 1 |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers | 26 | 4 | 1 |
| James Harden | Cavaliers | 18 | 6 | 2 |
Reactions and Looking Ahead
Knicks head coach Mike Brown praised his shooting guard, stating, “Just a whale of a game from Josh.” Hart, who had seen his playing time reduced during the previous game’s late rally and entered the contest shooting just 26.7% from deep, overcame early frustration to play a pivotal role. “I knew I had to just keep shooting and if I did that I’d be good,” Hart said.
Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell reflected, “Nothing to hang our head about. They protected home court, and we’ve seen this before so we’re going to go to Game 3.” James Harden highlighted the difficulties, adding, “It’s difficult when you’re not making shots. It puts twice as much pressure on you defensively to get stops.”
Now up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive year, the Knicks will look to continue their push for their first NBA Finals berth in a quarter-century as the series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday.
