How Josh Hart's resilience jump-started the Knicks and pushed them two games from the NBA Finals

In Game 2 of their NBA playoff series on May 22, 2026, the New York Knicks overcame a 22-point deficit in a historic comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers, putting them two wins away from the NBA Finals. Josh Hart, who had struggled with Cleveland's defensive strategy of deploying a center on him in Game 1, played a key role in Game 2 despite briefly being replaced by Landry Shamet in a five-shooter lineup that initially sparked the comeback. The Cavaliers' game plan of sagging off Hart to clog the interior ultimately failed, as Hart's resilience proved decisive in New York's victory.