New York Knicks don show say dem serious for this postseason, as dem beat Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 for Game 2 of Eastern Conference finals. Josh Hart score playoff-career-high 26 points, Jalen Brunson add 19 points and 14 assists, and Mikal Bridges also get 19 points. Karl-Anthony Towns contribute 18 points and 13 rebounds for Knicks, wey don win nine straight games, wey be NBA longest postseason winning streak since Boston Celtics win 10 straight for 2024.
Two nights after dem rally from 22-point deficit for fourth quarter, Knicks make sure dem dey in control late with 18-0 run for third quarter wey give dem 71-53 lead. Fans dey chant ‘Knicks in four! Knicks in four!’
Donovan Mitchell score 26 points, James Harden get 18 for Cavaliers, wey now face 2-0 deficit for second straight round. Only two teams for NBA history don overcome multiple 2-0 deficits for single postseason—2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks (wey win title) and 2020-21 LA Clippers (wey lose for West finals). Cavs host Game 3 on Saturday.
Knicks dey Eastern Conference finals for second straight year but no don play for championship since dem lose to San Antonio Spurs for 1999. New York become 13th team for NBA history to win nine straight games for playoff run; of previous 12, only 2011-12 San Antonio Spurs fail to make Finals.
Brunson score 38 points and lead Game 1 comeback. He get only two points for first half Thursday before e make first basket of run wey break open game. Hart burn Cavaliers defensive strategy wey dey leave am open from long range after dem bench am for Game 1 rally, playing just three minutes combined for fourth quarter and overtime. Thursday, Hart put im jersey for mouth and bite am, bounce ball down hard for frustration three times. But e keep firing and finish 5-for-11 on 3s.
Mitchell start slow with just seven points for first half, wey trigger more questions about whether e dey injured. Cleveland get 27-24 lead after one. Knicks lead 53-49 at halftime. Cavs get first two baskets of third to tie am, but Brunson answer with 3-pointer to start 18-0 run. He get two more buckets for burst, and Hart hit pair of 3-pointers, latter capping am to make am 71-53 with 5:36 remaining for third. After Cavs score five straight, Hart make another 3, and Towns score to restore 18-point advantage. Knicks eventually push lead to 19.
Information from ESPN Research and Associated Press use for dis report.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
