Knicks Ride Hart and Brunson to 109-93 Game 2 Rout of Cavaliers

The New York Knicks took control early and never looked back, dispatching the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Josh Hart paced the home side with 26 points, while Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense with 14 assists in a balanced effort that overwhelmed Cleveland.

The decisive moment

New York seized command midway through the second quarter, taking the lead for good with 10:35 left in the period and steadily widening the gap from there. By halftime the Knicks had imposed their pace on the game, and the Cavaliers never mounted a sustained run to threaten the margin.

By the numbers

Final: New York 109, Cleveland 93 (16-point margin)
Josh Hart (NYK): 26 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST
Jalen Brunson (NYK): 19 PTS, 3 REB, 14 AST
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK): 18 PTS, 13 REB
Donovan Mitchell (CLE): 26 PTS, 4 REB

Hart's two-way energy set the tone, and Brunson's 14 assists fueled a Knicks attack that found contributions up and down the lineup. Towns added the night's only double-double, controlling the glass on both ends.

What it means

For New York, the 16-point win in this 2025-26 NBA Playoffs matchup was a statement of depth and balance, with four players scoring in double figures and the offense humming through Brunson. The Knicks looked every bit the part of a team built for a deep postseason run, dictating tempo on their home floor.

For Cleveland, Mitchell's 26 points were not enough to overcome a quiet supporting cast. The Cavaliers will need more from their secondary scorers and stronger work on the defensive glass to turn the series around.

What to watch next

Eyes turn to whether Cleveland's bench can answer New York's depth and whether Mitchell gets help shouldering the scoring load. Expect the Knicks to lean again on Brunson's playmaking and Hart's hustle as the series rolls on.