You could feel it happening in real time. Beforehand, you could see it coming from a mile away.
The Cavaliers unraveling, like they did in Game 1. The Knicks, clicking into gear, like they repeatedly have been during this now nine-game tour de force.
At this point, it all felt inevitable. There is a predictable nature — in all the best ways — about these Knicks at the moment.
After a sluggish first-half showing offensively, the Knicks erupted for 32 points in the third quarter. They outscored the Cavs by 11, as their four-point halftime lead ballooned to 15.
They shot 13-for-23 from the field and 5-for-10 from 3-point range in the period.
The Madison Square Garden grew a bit uneasy as the Knicks started the fourth quarter slowly, saw their lead cut to single-digits, and they went into the penalty with 9:19 left in the game.
But the closest the Cavs got was seven points. Then the Knicks restored order.
And put themselves within two wins of the finals with their 109-93 Game 2 win Thursday night.
Josh Hart was in the middle of everything.
The Cavs continued their strategy of having Jarrett Allen not guard him beyond the perimeter, daring Hart to take wide-open 3-pointers. Hart obliged, but his Game 1 shooting woes – when he went 1-for-5 from deep – bled into the start of Game 2. He went 2-for-7 from 3-point range in the first half and 5-for-12 overall. Those 12 shots were five more than the next-highest, Karl-Anthony Towns and double Brunson’s attempts.
Allen not guarding him allowed him to act as a second defender on Brunson, whose two first-half points were the fewest he ever scored in a playoff half with the Knicks. It was stymieing the Knicks offense as a whole.
But Hart — and coach Mike Brown with his trust in him – did not waver. He kept firing away and drilled all three 3s he took in the third quarter. It wasn’t just his shooting, either — he was everywhere. He had three assists, two steals and an offensive rebound in the quarter. In total, Hart finished with 26 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
And Brunson’s historically quiet first half predictably didn’t last. He had seven points and six assists in the third quarter. Brunson finished with 19 points and 14 assists. As the Cavs kept doubling, he kept finding open teammates. Once those teammates started hitting open shots,
Karl-Anthony Towns was aggressive early with 13 first-half points. He finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Mikal Bridges, continuing his stellar performances the last two series, finished with 19 points on stellar 9-for-12 shooting from the field. Only one of those shots was a 3-pointer — he has been as aggressive attacking the rim as he’s ever been with the Knicks. He again played stellar defense on James Harden. Bridges and Towns helped keep the Knicks afloat during their first-half slog.
And OG Anunoby keeps knocking off his rust, adding 14 points.
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As a team, the Knicks made the Cavs’ prolific shot-blockers — Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — irrelevant. They had a 58-40 advantage in points in the paint.
Donovan Mitchell, who had 26 points, was a one-man show for the Cavs. The Knicks held them to a combined 38.8 percent shooting from the field and 25.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. The Cavs also missed 10 free throws. They went down weakly.
Perhaps the only area of concern is that the Knicks got little contribution from their bench. Mitchell Robinson, who went 0-for-4 from the free-throw line, was again neutered by Hack-a-Mitch and continues to show no signs of turning it around.
But at the moment, you have to search deep for things to complain about with this team.
They have so many different ways to beat opponents. So many ways to whip their fans into a frenzy.
So many memorable moments this postseason.
Every indication is that there will be many more.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
