NBA DAILY RECAP: New York takes 2-0 lead vs Cleveland

Sports

THE New York Knicks did what the Cleveland Cavaliers failed to do in Game 1--protect a big lead.

The Knicks pulled away in the third period and cruised to a convincing 109-93 win in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday (Philippine time), May 22.

From a 53-49 lead at the half, New York broke the game wide open in the third by staging a 32-21 attack for an 85-70 lead going into the final quarter.

Unlike Cleveland, which squandered a 93-71 lead in the fourth period of their sorry 104-115 overtime loss in Game 1, New York took care of the lead, not allowing the Cavaliers to launch a major comeback to seal the victory.

New York, thus, surged a 2-0 series lead with Games 3 and 4 set in Cleveland.

Josh Hart topped the Knicks with a playoff career-high 26 points anchored on a 5-of-11 shooting from three-point range. Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson tallied 19 points apiece while Karl-Anthony Towns amd OG Anunoby had 18 and 14 markers, respectively.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26 points but he and James Harden shot poorly from the field after combining for just 14-for-33.

Mitchell shot 8-of-18 while Harden, who scored 18 points, was just 6-of-15.

Game 3 of the series will be on Sunday, May 24.(CCM)