JOSH Hart delivered a playoff-best performance as New York Knicks defeated Cleveland Cavaliers, 109-93, in Game 2 of NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night (Friday in the Philippines) in New York.
Hart, who had seen limited minutes late in Game 1, erupted for 26 points, including five three-pointers, as New York moved within two victories of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
Hart, who entered Game 2 shooting below 27 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs, responded emphatically after missing his early attempts to lead the Knicks to its ninth consecutive playoff win.
Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense with 19 points and 14 assists, Mikal Bridges added 19 markers, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks.
Unlike Game 1, where New York needed a dramatic comeback from 22 points down, the Knicks took control in the third quarter behind a decisive 18-0 run that turned a tied contest into a comfortable cushion.
Brunson sparked the surge with a three-pointer before Hart connected on consecutive triples to help the Knicks build a 71-53 advantage midway through the period.
Cleveland managed to trim the deficit to single digits in the fourth at 80-88, but missed free throws by Dennis Schroder prevented any serious comeback attempt.
New York eventually restored control and pushed the lead back to 19, sending the Madison Square Garden crowd into celebration as chants of “Knicks in four” echoed late in the game.
Donovan Mitchell top-scored for the Cavaliers with 26 points, James Harden added 18 markers, while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen had 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The Cavaliers, which reached the conference finals via a pair of seven-game series, now return home for Game 3 on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines) facing another 0-2 deficit./PN
