The New York Knicks extended their postseason winning streak to nine games by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
The victory gives the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals, moving them closer to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
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Knicks' Key Performers
Josh Hart led the Knicks with a playoff career-high 26 points. Jalen Brunson contributed 19 points and 14 assists, while Mikal Bridges scored 19 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 13 rebounds for New York, which has now won nine consecutive games.
This streak marks the longest postseason winning run in the NBA since the Boston Celtics secured 10 straight victories during their 2024 championship campaign.
Game Deciding Run
The Knicks established dominance in the third quarter with an 18-0 run to build a 71-53 advantage. Fans chanted "Knicks in four!"
in the final minute.
The Cleveland Cavaliers struggled to execute despite strong statistical areas.
They turned the ball over only eight times and generated 32 free throw attempts compared to New York's 14.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and James Harden added 18 points without committing a single turnover.
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However, Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson faced scrutiny after the team shot 25% from the three-point line.
Cavaliers' Struggles
Evan Mobley scored 10 points in the first quarter but finished the game with 14 points, failing to attempt a single shot in the second half.
Jarrett Allen played 29 minutes.
Cleveland perimeter players Sam Merrill and Max Strus struggled to provide offensive spacing.
Merrill scored four points on 1-of-8 shooting, including 0-for-7 from deep, in 23 minutes.
Strus finished with five points after shooting 1-of-7 from beyond the arc across 25 minutes.
The Cavaliers now face a 2-0 series deficit for the second consecutive round, having previously rallied against the Detroit Pistons.
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Cleveland is scheduled to host Game 3 of the series on Saturday.
