Overview
- The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday to go up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals after erasing a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit in Game 1.
- Josh Hart scored a playoff-career high 26 points in Game 2 and Jalen Brunson added 19 points and a career playoff-high 14 assists while coach Mike Brown was cleared to coach after a minor calf tweak.
- Oklahoma City changed matchups by using 7-foot center Isaiah Hartenstein on Victor Wembanyama to limit rim scoring, and that adjustment helped the Thunder even parts of the series and win Game 3 in San Antonio 123-108 to lead the West 2-1.
- Injuries and availability are shaping rotations: Oklahoma City ruled out Jalen Williams after a hamstring flare, San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox re-aggravated his ankle in Game 3, and both benches have swung scoring advantages.
- Turnovers, physical defense and officiating talk have been decisive factors so far and will be key to the next games as the winners advance to the NBA Finals and the series shift to Cleveland and San Antonio for upcoming matchups.