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Updated: April 18, 2023 | 10:22 p.m
Follow live New York Post updates as the New York Knicks take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the 2023 Opening Round of the NBA Playoffs Series.
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The Knicks jumped out to a 12-4 lead over the Cavaliers to open game two — and that was fine for them on Tuesday night.
They would return to New York with a series split, but any potential momentum from the opening squandered in the wake of the 107-90 loss.
It’s not that the Knicks didn’t have answers for Darius Garland, who scored a game-high 32 points, it’s just that they didn’t have any answers at all.
They struggled in depth, scoring just seven out of 29 three-point attempts, and made only 29 out of 79 shots that night.
Game 1 hero Josh Hart didn’t appear limping due to a sprained ankle he suffered in the opener, but scored just five points and was a bad-29 in 26:47 off the bench.
Things were marginally better for the likes of Jalen Bronson – who scored 20 on 5 of 17 shooting, despite being 1 of 8 outside the arc – and Julius Randle, who struggled to find consistency in a 22-point effort.
The Knicks will have a few days to figure out where everything went wrong before they get back in action for Game 3 at the Park on Friday.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Cavaliers NBA series
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is only beginning to unload things as things got worse on Tuesday.
The Knicks hit 17 turnovers, including six by Julius Randle.
They were off rebounding 54-44, including a 32-13 half in Cleveland.
There is certainly a lot to detail over the next few days.
CLEVELAND – “New York Sucks” chants bounced off the walls of the deafening Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Cavaliers were up by 20 points, and it wasn’t until halftime yet.
It didn’t get much better for the Knicks during the final 24 minutes of this one-sided rout.
Consider Tuesday night a reminder that Cleveland, a firm favorite going into a best-of-seven opening round series, is not going anywhere.
They certainly looked like the better team by far three days after the Knicks took home court advantage with a thrilling Game 1 victory.
As promised, the Cavaliers responded again in Game 2 and the Knicks didn’t have any answers.
The Knicks will head home to a 1-1 draw after falling 107-90 to the Cavs in the second game.
A 17-point deficit doesn’t quite tell the whole story as the Knicks trailed by more than 20 points in the second half, struggling to come up with runs — or stop Cleveland from making their own shots.
Everyone’s back in business on Friday, when the series moves to The Garden hopefully a little friendlier to Knicks.
Julius Randle hit the ground hard after being fouled by Jarrett Allen as Randle advanced for a dunk in the closing minutes of Game 2.
Allen was hit hard, sending Randle to the line, though it begs the question: With the Cleveland 20 ahead, why is the Knicks star (among others) still in the game?
Cameras caught Allen pleading his case that it was a “hustle,” though no one should have been involved in the situation anyway.
With the Cavs leading 103-76 and just over three minutes down, it might be time for both sides to put in the subs.
It’s 82-60 in favor of the Cavs after three quarters and the Knicks haven’t found answers anywhere tonight.
It’s just five of 22 of three and 20 of 61 overall.
Crazier things have happened in a quarter, but the Knicks seem destined to go home with a series split.
The Knicks ended up on the bad side of the history books with that first half.
While things are going, ehm… rough… in Cleveland, it’s a much different story in the Big Apple, where the Rangers lead the Devils 3-0 going into their first-round opener.
Maybe the Rangers can lend the Knicks a few points.
The half wasn’t close enough for the Knicks, who were on the wrong end with a score of 59-39 in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers crowd can’t seem to make it any easier:
Darius Garland has a career-high 26 for the Cavs on 6-of-10 shooting, while leading 14 for Gillen Bronson on the Knicks. Julius Randle has reached 12, but the Knicks are going to need more of him if they’re going to get out of this.
With the Knicks trying to emerge from a double-digit deficit, Julius Randle caught Jalen Bronson in the eye with his errant arm.
To make matters worse, the Knicks have racked up 10 turnovers so far.
It’s 50-35 Cavs now, and it’s turning ugly.
The first few minutes of the second quarter saw the Knicks lead 33-24, and it didn’t go well for the Knicks:
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