Knicks vs. Cavaliers: 3 keys for New York in Game 2 of Eastern Conference Finals

The Knicks seemed dead in the water. After a cold shooting night and an out-of-sorts defensive performance through three-and-a-half quarters, the Knicks were down 93-71 to the Cleveland Cavaliers with just 7 minutes and 52 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It would’ve made sense to take the loss and fight another day. But Jalen Brunson had other plans. The All-Star guard led New York to an epic comeback win in the series opener, 115-104. New York went on a 44-11 run over the final 12 minutes and 49 seconds of the game.

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After the wondrous comeback, there are three keys to think about ahead of Game 2 on Thursday.

Brunson Burner

What else is there to say about Brunson? The Knicks’ All-Star had 38 points, five rebounds, and six assists in Game 1. He took over the fourth quarter and overtime, scoring 17 points.

As he hunted James Harden to defend him on switches, Brunson became the conductor, directing where everyone was on the court. By the final possessions of the fourth quarter, he forced Cleveland to double-team him, leading to three-pointers from Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet.

Though there’s always been some criticism toward his defense, and his reliance on isolation basketball, it’s clear that Brunson is still one of the best shot-creators in the NBA. His excellent footwork and dribble moves are impressive. And he has great touch.

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Everything went wrong for the Knicks in this game. They couldn’t knock down a three for much of it, Karl-Anthony Towns struggled to find a rhythm, and the defense waxed and waned. But Brunson’s performance was an example of how a star can steer a team to a win regardless of the situation.

Bad blitz

The Knicks have often benefited from an aggressive defensive style during these playoffs. In the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, blitzing CJ McCollum proved to be the ultimate trump card. In the second round, New York slowed down guard Tyrese Maxey with the strategy.

But the Conference Finals might be the time for the team to dial back the overhelping. Cleveland’s guards Harden and Donovan Mitchell were both ready for the…

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Publish date : 2026-05-20 13:11:00

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