Knicks drop game 2 in crushing 90-107 defeat in Cleveland

The Knicks suffered a crushing defeat in game 2 of the playoffs against the Cavaliers, losing 90-107. Darius Garland, who had promised to fight back after the game 1 loss, led the charge for the Cavs with 32 points, 26 of which came in the first half. Garland was deadly from beyond the arc, going 6-10 from 3-point range.

“I was mad about the loss, but we knew it was going to be a long series. We came back and responded tonight.”

– Darius Garland

The Cavs went on a 14-2 run late in the first quarter to take a 33-24 lead, and they never looked back.

The Knicks struggled to keep up with the Cavs, who outscored them 34-17 in the second quarter. The Cavs’ lead ballooned to 66-41 after halftime, and they led by as many as 29 points midway through the fourth quarter. The Knicks simply didn’t stand a chance.

Julius Randle led the way for the Knicks with 22 points, while Jalen Brunson added 20 points. RJ Barrett chipped in with 14 points, and Immanuel Quickley provided 12 points off the bench. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Cavs’ dominance.

The Cavs’ ball movement was a key factor in their victory, as they dished out 26 assists compared to the Knicks’ 16. They also outshot the Knicks, hitting 49.4% of their field goal attempts compared to the Knicks’ 36.7%.

Donovan Mitchell contributed 17 points and 13 assists, while Caris LeVert added 24 points and Evan Mobley chipped in 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The series is now tied at 1-1, with the Knicks hoping to bounce back in Game 3 on their home court.