Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns lead Knicks past Cavs in comfortable Game 2 win

Atlantic76ersCelticsKnicksNetsRaptorsCentralBucksBullsCavaliersPacersPistonsSoutheastHawksHeatHornetsMagicWizardsSouthwestGrizzliesMavericksPelicansRocketsSpursNorthwestJazzNuggetsThunderTimberwolvesTrail BlazersPacificClippersKingsLakersSunsWarriorsScores & ScheduleStandingsThe Bounce NewsletterNBA DraftPodcastsFantasyNBA OddsNBA PicksWhat's Next For Lakers?Hollinger's Top ProspectsVecenie's Mock DraftNBA Playoffs Josh Hart erupted in Game 2 with a playoff-career high 26 points to lead the Knicks to a 109-93 win. Sarah Stier / Getty Images Share article4NEW YORK – The Knicks didn’t need a historic comeback or Jalen Brunson to be super human this time. Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals belonged to Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and all of New York. The Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead and extending their playoff winning streak to nine games. Game 3 is Saturday at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena (8 p.m., ABC). Hart, typically the Knicks’ fifth scoring option, erupted for 12 of his playoff-career high 26 points during a third quarter in which New York took control of what had been a close game. With the score tied early in the period at 53, the Knicks reeled off 18 consecutive points over a roughly four-minute stretch in which Hart connected on three 3s. The 18 in a row for New York had people talking about the 22-point deficit the Knicks overcame to win Game 1. Something about this team and hot streaks. Towns contributed 18 points and 13 boards and Mikal Bridges added 19 points. The Cavs, well, they’re not so hot. For the third time in the playoffs they’ve lost consecutive road games and are just 8-8 this postseason – rare for a conference finalist. Donovan Mitchell seemed to be moving a little slower (he was not on the injury report), but led the Cavs with 26 points. Jarrett Allen was strong with 13 points and 10 boards while James Harden shot 6-of-15 for 18 points. Cleveland’s Sam Merrill, whom Knicks coach Mike Brown called (along with Max Strus) one of the “best shooters in the league,” missed all seven of his 3s on Thursday. As for Brunson, the Game 1 hero, he contributed 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting and 14 assists. He scored just two points in the first half on the first basket of the game by going right at his target from Game 1, Mr. Harden, but had a solid second half. Before these Eastern Conference finals, Knicks coach Mike Brown suggested that the Cavaliers’ long, athletic big men could make life a bit tougher on Karl-Anthony Towns, who had been enjoying the postseason spoils as the world’s biggest active point guard. Maybe KAT would not be able to stand tall in the pinch post, look over the heavy traffic, and fire water-polo passes through the defense at will. Towns did dish out four assists in the first half of Game 1, but then only one more Tuesday night during the chaotic closing 29 minutes. In the Knicks’ Game 2 victory Thursday night, Towns finished with only 1 assist in 36 minutes to go along with his 18 points and 13 rebounds. This was the same KAT who was good for 56 assists in New York’s seven-game winning streak against the Atlanta Hawks (in Round 1) and the Philadelphia 76ers (in Round 2). The adjustment in approach shows a flexibility in Brown and Towns that is necessary this time of year. The coach received so much credit for dramatically altering his star’s role in the middle of a make-or-break first-round playoff series that it wouldn’t have been surprising if he stayed with it for the balance of the postseason, no matter what. KAT was also praised to the hilt for his selflessness and versatility while making like his childhood idol, Magic Johnson. He could have kept passing on first down, second down, and third down. But the Knicks didn’t think it made as much sense this series to run their operation through their 7-foot center, and so far they’ve been right. They left the dishing to Jalen Brunson in Game 2, and the captain answered with 14 assists. — Ian O’Connor There were a lot of ways in which the Cavaliers came up short Thursday night but it was acute with Donovan Mitchell. After he scored a team-best 29 points in Game 1, Mitchell was mostly quiet in Game 2. Yes, he did score 26 points but he was hardly efficient and he did not look much like the player who attacked the Knicks defense two nights earlier. Mitchell started the game slow before recovering and scoring the majority of his points after the Cavs went down in the third quarter. He rarely got to the rim and the ESPN broadcast repeatedly discussed how he seemed hampered with a lower body injury that sapped him of some of his athleticism and explosiveness. If Mitchell cannot be healthy enough to be himself the rest of the way then the Cavaliers probably have little chance to make a comeback in this series and get to the finals. — Mike Vorkunov Remember when there were questions as to if Mikal Bridges, the man traded for five first-round picks, should be starting? That feels like an eternity ago, eh? Bridges has been nothing but steady on both ends of the floor since New York left Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs, providing consisting shot-making and physical point-of-attack defense. So far in the Eastern Conference finals, Bridges has made 16 of his 23 shots attempts. Since Game 4 against Atlanta, when Bridges played under 22 minutes for the second straight game, he has made over 65 percent of his shots from the field. Defensively, he did a good job on Tyrese Maxey in the second round. So far, through two games, he’s made life difficult for James Harden. Bridges has often been the source of fan frustration since coming to the Knicks, but he has stepped in the postseason when New York needs him most. Whether it’s a big steal or block in crunch time (like he did last year against Boston) or making big shots down the stretch (like he did in Games 1 and 2 against Cleveland), Bridges has left his mark on the Knicks’ run over these last two seasons. Assuming New York gets to the finals, which is looking very likely, it will need the best version of Bridges to date as he’ll likely be the one guarding the reigning two-time MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and will need to make him work some on the defensive end, as well. — James L. Edwards III Talk all you want about James Harden’s mundane 15 points and two assists. Or about the Cavaliers’ inability to move the basketball against a staunch Knicks defense. Or about Evan Mobley going absent for stretches of Game 2. But the Cavs’ big four — the group that includes Harden, Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen — cannot do this on its own. It cannot win four of the next five games purely on Mitchell hot streaks or on Allen rebounding binges. Someone, maybe more than just one guy, needs to join the party. And in Game 2, no one did. No member of Cleveland’s supporting cast finished the game with more than five points. Sam Merrill, Dennis Schröder, Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson and Dean Wade combined to shoot just 6 of 27 from the field. Five guys made six shots. The Cavs are designed for  Wade to at least attempt 3s or Merrill to catch fire from deep or Strus to roast after setting ball-screens aplenty. But none of that happened in Game 2. Cleveland’s back is against the wall, like it was against the Detroit Pistons, when it dropped the first two games of a series it eventually won. It took more than just four guys to carry the comeback. For Cleveland to have a chance this time, it could use the same. — Fred Katz Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms