Every time I see a Knicks player switch onto Harden the whole team looks relieved. They spread out the floor and let Harden go one on one with their player. The Knicks almost always score. That was the story down the stretch in Game 1 but that same strategy helped New York create their lead in Game 2. Kenny Atkinson has some serious decisions to make.
Knicks 109 - Cavaliers 93 (2-0)
What happened?
This game was back and forth up until the third quarter. Then the Knicks started to pull away and by the 4th they had a 20 point lead. The Cavs tried to close it, but it was too little too late and the Knicks got the win to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Even though Brunson didn’t have a great game scoring wise, with 19 points on 1-7 from three he impacted it on the playmaking side of the ball with 14 assists on only 3 turnovers. The real story for the Knicks tonight was Josh Hart. He hit 5 huge threes for the Knicks and ended on 26 points. KAT also had a bounce back game with 18 and 13 on 58% efficiency. Overall, it was a solid performance from the Knicks and a below par one from Cleveland.
What does it mean?
A 2-0 series lead in the Conference Finals is almost impossible to recover from. Only a small handful of teams in NBA history have come back from that deficit. Cleveland need to win 4 of the 5 remaining games including at least 2 in New York. When you put it that way it almost feels like the Knicks have one foot in the NBA Finals.
Whats next?
Game 3 is Sunday Night in Cleveland, 1am UK time. Cavs are 54.4% favorites on home floor. They need a win or this series is more than over.
Keys for the Cavs in Game 3:
Cleveland need to target Brunson the same way the Knicks are targeting Harden. We saw that Brunson was a defensive cone when Harden went one on one but it just didn’t happen enough. If Harden or Mitchell just hunts for the switch on Brunson and just goes to work they are going to score more consistently than they have been now. Mobley has made his impact on this series known so far with the three-ball falling for him and he’s always a presence in the interior. If he stays consistent and Cleveland’s star-studded front-court score better I think the Cavs have a real chance of coming back in this series.
Jalen Brunsons Impact:
In Game 1 we saw Brunson completely take over on the scoring side of the ball. He had 38 points and was taking almost every shot when matched up with Harden. Game 2 was different. The Cavs were sending doubles to Brunson almost every play down the stretch allowing him to use his elite playmaking to find the open man. He kept racking up assists all game and ended with 14 of them. This was the key to the Knicks success. I wonder how Kenny Atkinson and the Cavs will adjust this time, seeing how he can punish them no matter how you defend him.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Josh Hart led the way with 26 points and 5 threes. The least glamorous Knick stepping up when it matters.
Brunson had 14-3 assist to turnover rate. That is elite playmaking.
Sam Merrill went 0-7 from three for the Cavs.
Every Knicks starter had a positive plus/minus.
Mitchell Robinson went 0-4 from the line for the Knicks. Hack-a-Mitch is working.
Daily Recap
NBA
Knicks 109 - 103 Cavaliers (2-0) Highlights
NHL
Canadiens 6 - 2 Hurricanes (1-0) Highlights
MLB
Braves 9 - 3 Marlins
Pirates 6 - 2 Cardinals
Mets 2 - 1 Nationals
Blue Jays 2 - 0 Yankees
Dodgers 4 - 0 Padres
Montreal 6 - Carolina 2
Montreal walked into the Carolina, the 1 seed, the team that swept their first two rounds without breaking a sweat, and won 6-2. Not 3-2. Not a lucky OT win. A dominant 6-2 performance. At some point you have to stop calling this a Cinderella and start calling the Habs contenders.
Is this a fluke?
No. Montreal have won on the road in a Game 7 at Buffalo and dominated a 1 seed on their ice in the space of a week. Two completely different tests and they passed both.
What’s Carolina’s problem?
They’ve been so dominant all playoffs they might have forgotten what a proper test actually feels like. Montreal gave them one and they had no answers whatsoever. I’m sure Carolina will bounce back but this is set to be an exciting series. It kind of reminds me of David vs Goliath but the way I see it it’s Goliath vs Goliath.
What’s next?
Game 2 is Sunday midnight UK time. Carolina are 64% favorites. Exactly the same odds they had before Game 1. I guess Vegas don’t care about a 6-2 domination job. Make of that as you will.
Can Montreal actually win this series?
They’re 36% underdogs. They were similarly priced against Buffalo. We know how that ended. If they stay physical, keep playing team hockey and continue to finish their chances
Preview: Spurs take on the Thunder in San Antonio for Game 3 (1-1) 1:30am UK time.
Series tied 1-1. Now heading to San Antonio where the Spurs are 53% favorites on home court. But the injury situation has become real for both teams.
Jalen Williams left Game 2 with a hamstring injury, his 4th in 5 months, and is listed as questionable for tonight. OKC managed fine without him earlier this season but losing him and his versatility in a Conference Finals game is a significant blow.
De’Aaron fox is also a game-time decision trying to play through a ‘re-aggravated ankle’ that he wouldn’t even attempt in the regular season. I can’t overstate the importance that Fox has to San Antonio and I don’t think the Spurs win this series without him. The Spurs are essentially playing on one leg. Bad became worse for the Spurs went Dylan Harper went down in the middle of Game 2 with right adductor soreness. Their backcourt is depleted and if Fox doesn’t return, Jordan McLaughlin will be matching up with SGA.
The turnover problem for San Antonio is real which is made worse by not having their star point guard and facilitator. Stephon Castle is elite defensively and at the rim but he’s not a point guard and the turnovers are showing. He has 19 turnovers across 2 games, the most in any 2 game stretch in NBA history. In other words, they need Fox.
The winner of a Game 3 in a tied series goes on to win 73.2% of the time. Both teams know the magnitude of this game. The Spurs have the crowd. The Thunder have the MVP. The Spurs have the alien. Someone is going home with a 2-1 lead and a massive psychological advantage.
⚾️ Around the Diamond
The Mets finally beat Washington after two painful losses, small win but they needed it badly. Dodgers shut out San Diego 4-0, back to being the almighty Dodgers. Atlanta beta Miami 9-3 for the second straight night, the Braves are the hottest team in the MLB right now. Pittsburgh beat St Louis 6-2, three straight wins over the Cardinals, who saw that coming? And Toronto shut out the Yankees for the second consecutive game. Look away Yankees fans. 18 innings. No runs. Missing Person Reportxt: Aaron Judge.