Knicks beat Cavaliers, 109-93, in Game 2 to win ninth consecutive playoff game
The Knicks didn't need an epic fourth-quarter comeback in this one, this time handling the Cleveland Cavaliers easily in a 109-93 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Here are the takeaways... -- In a game where Jalen Brunson finished with 19 points but had just two points in the first half, New York leaned on its supporting cast heavily early on who got the job done.
First it was Karl-Anthony Towns who had seven points in the first quarter by bullying his way to the rim and finding his stroke early from long-range. Mikal Bridges also chipped in with six in the opening quarter with excellent shot selection. Off the bench, Miles McBride added some energy and shot-making ability, hitting a three with 2:09 left in the first quarter to put New York ahead by two.
It was the last basket the Knicks would make until the second quarter as the Cavaliers re-took the lead thanks to a 5-0 run to end the first quarter. -- McBride kept it going to kick off the second with a two-pointer before Towns tied things up with a deep three. It was a bit of a slog for New York after that until Bridges ended a nearly three-minute stretch without a made field goal with a nice pullup jumper.
OG Anunoby and Josh Hart started to get involved from there and ended the half by combining for the Knicks' final 15 points, including back-to-back threes. Meanwhile, what Brunson lacked in scoring in the first half, he made up for with his passing by totaling five assists at halftime. In fact, New York as a team did a great job of passing the ball around and had 17 assists compared to Cleveland's nine at the break and led 53-49.
-- Following his offensive flurry to end the half, Hart completely caught fire in the third quarter, especially from deep, and went 3-for-3 behind the line, all assisted by Brunson. His third three-pointer of the quarter gave him 24 points. Speaking of Brunson, the point guard had six assists in the third quarter alone and finished with a playoff career-high 14.