Josh Hart-led Knicks shoot past Cavs, take 2-0 series lead

NEW YORK -- Josh Hart's scrunched-up face told it all.

The Cleveland Cavaliers left him open for all of Game 1 and repeated the same strategy in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night. To try to tie this series and put pressure on the favored Knicks, the Cavaliers weren't going to allow Jalen Brunson or New York to do it on their own terms. Leaving Hart open and hoping he would get inside his own head seemed like the right strategy.

And for a half it was.

But Hart found his sweet spot and dictated the action in the third quarter, keying an 18-0 run as the Knicks broke open a close game and won decisively 109-93 to take a 2-0 advantage with the series heading to Cleveland this weekend.

The last time the Knicks held a two-game lead in the conference finals was 1994, when they took a 2-0 edge on the Indiana Pacers in a series they won in seven games to advance to the NBA Finals. That's how unchartered this territory is for the Knicks, and Hart was an unlikely narrator to the story Thursday night.

A 41% 3-point shooter this season on low volume, Hart wasn't hesitant when the Cavaliers tried sending a bevy of defenders his way in an effort to turn the game into 4-on-5.

Once he finally connected on three triples in the third quarter, it broke open what was a close game that didn't feel like it. That's the type of streak the Knicks are on. They've won nine straight postseason games in which competition has been next to nil. Their only hiccup was negated by 10 minutes of concentration in Game 1 of this series with their historic comeback.

Now, thanks to Hart, who led the Knicks with 26 points to go with seven assists, they're two games away from a title shot.

Hart missed his first three attempts from distance -- leading him toput his jersey in his mouth and bite it as he slammed the ball down hard in frustration -- but he promised beforehand he would keep shooting and stayed true to his word, leading the Knicks in shots in the first half.

"I was kind of frustrated, I've been putting in the reps," he said. "It's not translating right now. I just knew I would keep shooting and if I did that, I would be good."

Coach Mike Brown correctly pulled Hart in Game 1 for Landry Shamet. But having Hart on the court causes so much confusion for the Cavaliers as they try to crossmatch, leaving an unbalanced floor and the energetic Hart in position to take full advantage with open shots and setting up his teammates. When Hart wasn't finding teammates, it was Brunson finding Hart for one of his playoff-high 14 assists.

"It's just who Josh is. He's a gamer. He knew what he had to do in terms of adjustments he needed to make in order to be effective," Brown said. "He was great, he was decisive. We have to play fast, so we're not going against a set defense all the time."

Hart's patience with himself has been a work in progress, especially this season under Brown. After leading the league in minutes under former coach Tom Thibodeau, his court time has been cut and he has had to sacrifice as much as anyone, even though he doesn't put up huge usage numbers.

"I try to play with more joy or more grace," Hart said. "I don't really celebrate when I score or make a good pass or stuff like that, and I kick myself probably a little bit too much when I miss shots or make turnovers, so I've had to learn grace and not try to be perfect."

The Knicks look ready for every adjustment the Cavaliers throw their way, and it showed in Game 2. Brunson wasn't going to have the type of magical night he had in the series opener, but the Knicks weren't going to have the rust on them following a 10-day layoff, either.

"Obviously we're loaded up more to him, and he found other guys," Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said of Brunson. "We just got to find that balance, but 14 assists, credit to him, right? Took away some of the scoring options, blitzed him, gave him different looks."

The Knicks again smothered the Cavaliers' offense, holding it to just 38.8% shooting and 26% from 3-point range. Hart single-handedly outperformed the Cavaliers' two designated shooters, Max Strus and Sam Merrill, as they combined to go just 1 for 11.

They played the math on Hart, and even though he isn't a huge fan of analytics, it was to his advantage on this night.

"Sometimes you got to tip your cap," Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell said. "Not comparing the players, but you see a similar situation in the other series. And with [Alex] Caruso (Oklahoma City Thunder guard), they're guarding him kind of the same way. So I'm not saying he's him or whatever or vice versa, but you just got to adjust and we'll look at the film and figure out ways to adjust."

Time could be running out for the Cavaliers, and the Knicks' time in the sun finally could be upon them.br/]