Josh Hart shines as Knicks take 2-0 Eastern Conference Finals lead

Josh Hart (YouTube)

The New York Knicks have taken complete control in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals of the National Basketball Association playoffs. After delivering a memorable game one comeback, the Knicks delivered a more comfortable game two win by a score of 109-93 over the Cleveland Cavaliers to take a two games to none lead in the best out of seven series.

What we saw on Thursday was excellence from Knicks shooting guard Josh Hart of Silver Spring, Maryland. The former Trail Blazer had a playoff career high 26 points in the 16-point victory.

All five Knicks starters reached double digits in points. Point guard Jalen Brunson of New Brunswick, New Jersey and small forward Mikal Bridges of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had 19 points each. Center Karl-Anthony Towns of Edison, New Jersey had 18 points, and power forward OG Anunoby of London, England had 14 points.

Brunson and Towns both had double-doubles. Brunson had 14 assists, and Towns had 13 rebounds. All 13 of Towns’s rebounds were defensive rebounds.

The first half was relatively even. The Knicks had a slim lead of 53-49.

It was the third quarter where the Knicks took complete control. Here, the Knicks outscored the Cavaliers 32-21 to take a commanding lead of 85-70 after 36 minutes. In the third quarter, the Knicks went on an impressive 18-0 run. With the game tied at 53 with one minute and 23 seconds into the second half, the Knicks had a lead of 71-53 with five minutes and 35 seconds left in the third quarter. In this five minute and two second stretch, we saw excellence from Hart, who scored nine points (two three-pointers, one dunk and one free throw). Game three is Saturday in Cleveland.