Recap: Knicks pull away from Cavs, take 2-0 lead in ECF

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: Karl-Anthony Towns helped lead the Knicks to victory ,109-93. (NBAE via Getty Images)

Starting 5: Thunder respond, avoid 0-2 hole in WCF

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ROLLIN ⚡️

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— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)

May 22, 2026

Knicks 109, Cavaliers 93 (NYK leads 2-0)

10:55 PM ET / May 21

Knicks win 9th straight playoff game 🗽🙌

The New York Knicks are two wins away from the NBA Finals, and in complete control of their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Cavaliers. The Knicks’ starting lineup combined for 96 points and 12 made threes. The clutch shot-making was too much for Cleveland to overcome.

Jalen Brunson accumulated a playoff career-high 14 assists while Josh Hart set a new postseason career-high with 26 points.

A STANDING OVATION FOR JOSH HART 👏

26 PTS (POSTSEASON CAREER-HIGH)

KNICKS WIN GAME 2 TO TAKE A 2-0 SERIES LEAD IN THE EAST FINALS!

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— NBA (@NBA)

Donovan Mitchell finished with 26 points, but it was not enough to power his squad to victory. An 18-0 scoring run in the third quarter effectively swung this game for good. The Cavaliers never recouped momentum, and only mustered 44 points in the second half.

KNICKS WIN GAME 2!

9 STRAIGHT POSTSEASON WINS.

2-0 SERIES LEAD IN THE EAST FINALS 🍿

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10:25 PM ET / May 21

NYK keeping CLE at bay as time runs out ⏳

Every time the Cavaliers cut the lead to single digits, the Knicks respond with baskets that extend their lead. Josh Hart has a playoff career-high if 26 points as New York leads by 14 with four minutes remaining.

smooth like butter

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10:09 PM ET / May 21

Can Cavs pull off similar comeback?

Cleveland held steady with New York through halftime, but faltered in the third, being outscored 32-21 by New York. The Knicks sank difficult shots, some late in the shot clock, but the team is generating higher quality chances than the Cavaliers.

As slippery as it seems at the moment, New York was in an even worse predicament with less time remaining in Game 1. Cleveland will need to begin the comeback soon if they hope to avoid going back home down 2-0 in the series.

9:59 PM ET / May 21

Hart’s heater continues 🔥

Josh Hart sinks his 5th three 🎯

He's got a game-high 24 PTS in Game 2!

Knicks lead by 16 in Q3 🍿

https://t.co/XOoxTEin3l

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9:39 PM ET / May 21

Cavs fall down by 18 before trimming lead

Josh Hart drilled a three to extend New York’s lead to 14, before getting fouled and splitting a pair of free throws. New York maintained possession leading to another Hart triple that put New York up by 18 points. Hart has a game-high 21 points.

JOSH IS ON ONE 😤

17 PTS | 4 AST

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on a 14-0 run 👏👏

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Jarrett Allen delivered a timely, momentum-swinging block on Towns that led to points in transition. Allen finished a put-back tip on the next possession to prevent the game from getting out of hand. Cleveland trails 71-58 with 4:22 remaining in the third.

✈️ Coast-to-coast JA!

@_bigjayy_

|

#LetEmKnow

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— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)

9:14 PM ET / May 21

Stalemate at halftime

New York holds a small lead at halftime, 53-49, but it doesn’t feel as though either team is in control after two quarters. Both teams have made six threes, but Cleveland has the advantage on free throw attempts.

YEAH 🎱

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Draw three, call UNO.

@JHarden13

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The Knicks will need to control the boards better in the second half. Cleveland has nine offensive rebounds compared to just one for New York, as the Cavs are out-rebounding their opponents 24-18 altogether. However, the assist edge lies with the Knicks, who have nearly double the amount of helpers than Cleveland.

back after the break

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9:01 PM ET / May 21

Knicks take lead, Brunson held in check

New York is getting a balanced effort from its starting lineup, with the exception of Jalen Brunson who has just two points on 1-for-5 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns has been aggressive on his way to a double-double, as he leads the team in scoring with 13 points.

KAT is 5-for-5 from the field in Game 2 💯

12 PTS

5 REB

https://t.co/NnSlAZdWbN

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8:39 PM ET / May 21

Mitchell beats buzzer from deep ✅

Donovan Mitchell was scoreless for the first 11:59 of the game before finding his first points from three-point land. The basket lifted Cleveland to a 27-24 lead. Mitchell Robinson missed four free throw attempts in the final minutes of the frame, which could have given New York a lead going into the break.

Spida sinks the stepback 3 🎯

Cavs lead by 3 after 1Q in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals!

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Evan Mobley looks energized, as he’s driving to the rim with authority while also sinking two threes in the first quarter.

Mobley with the smooth reverse jam 💥

He's got 10 PTS in Q1 of Game 2!

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8:26 PM ET / May 21

Some hot shooting from beyond the arc helped Cleveland establish a 17-11 lead at the game’s first timeout.

The Cavs start the game 3/3 from beyond the arc 🎯🔥

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8:17 PM ET / May 21

NY fast start neutralized

New York sank its first shot just seconds after the opening tip. Mikal Bridges then stole the inbounds pass, leading to a Knicks three that marked a 5-0 start in less than a minute.

KAT making that 3️⃣ look 2️⃣ easy

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Evan Mobley drilled a triple to get Cleveland on the board, as Cleveland quickly tied the game five apiece. Since New York’s opening blitz, the Cavaliers have calmed the storm as both teams settle into their offenses.

8:12 PM ET / May 21

Starting lineups ✋

The Cavaliers are starting the same lineup that began Game 1, with Dean Wade starting over Max Strus. Wade also handled many possessions in the previous game as the primary defender on Jalen Brunson.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS GAME 2 STARTERS.

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May 21, 2026

New York, meanwhile is going with its trusted five of Brunson, Bridges, Hart, Anunoby and Towns.

ECF Game ✌️

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8:05 PM ET / May 21

Game 1 comeback revisited ⏮

As tonight’s contest prepares to tip off, rewind to Game 1 of the series where the Knicks erased a 22-point lead in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter. Cleveland will be out to avenge the loss, after failing to steal home-court advantage in the defeat.

Down 22, 8 minutes to play.

The Knicks came alive.

And so did MSG.

New York closed Game 1 on a 44-11 run to complete the 2nd-largest 4th quarter playoff comeback in the play-by-play era (1997) 😤

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