Karl-Anthony Towns had an impressive Game 2 in the Knicks' win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals at MSG.
On Tuesday, Karl-Anthony Towns dismissed his quiet offensive night. All that mattered, he said then, was the Knicks prevailed.
“It’s not about the individual performances, it’s about this team finding a way to put up a win on the board,” Towns said. “I think that’s what’s special.”
Two nights later, he regained his form.
Though it wasn’t Towns the distributor, as it has been since the Knicks made a tweak to their offense during the opening-round series against the Hawks, he was pretty effective nonetheless.
Karl-Anthony Towns had an impressive Game 2 in the Knicks’ win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals at MSG. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Towns was terrific, notching 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting, 13 rebounds and a plus-18 rating in 36 strong minutes.
He hit three 3-pointers, equaling his most in these playoffs.
Karl-Anthony Towns looks for the open man while being guarded by James Harden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It was a very different Towns from the series opener, when he was limited to 13 points on 6-for-14 shooting along with seven turnovers. He was aggressive, made quick decisions and scored in a variety of ways — from beyond the arc and in the interior.
At times, he overpowered Cavaliers big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. On other occasions, he shot over them.
The performance continued Towns’ strong postseason. It has also shown his ability to adjust, from scorer to distributor back to scorer again.
“Just seeing where the game goes,” said Towns, who also had a major role in holding Mobley scoreless after halftime. “Last game, I felt was a game for us to kind of download a lot of information. Today, I just wanted to be aggressive — like I always say, playmaking, getting looks at the basket. It wasn’t even about scoring, it was about putting pressure on the defense, and I just found myself in good positions.”
The Knicks didn't need an epic fourth-quarter comeback in this one, this time handling the Cleveland Cavaliers easily in a 109-93 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Here are the takeaways...
-- In a game where Jalen Brunson finished with 19 points but had just two points in the first half, New York leaned on its supporting cast heavily early on, who got the job done.
First, it was Karl-Anthony Towns who had seven points in the first quarter by bullying his way to the rim and finding his stroke early from long range. Mikal Bridges also chipped in with six in the opening quarter with excellent shot selection.
Off the bench, Miles McBride added some energy and shot-making ability, hitting a three with 2:09 left in the first quarter to put New York ahead by two. It was the last basket the Knicks would make until the second quarter as the Cavaliers re-took the lead thanks to a 5-0 run to end the first quarter.
-- McBride kept it going to kick off the second with a two-pointer before Towns tied things up with a deep three. It was a bit of a slog for New York after that until Bridges ended a nearly three-minute stretch without a made field goal with a nice pull-up jumper.
OG Anunoby and Josh Hart started to get involved from there and ended the half by combining for the Knicks' final 15 points, including back-to-back threes.
Meanwhile, what Brunson lacked in scoring in the first half, he made up for with his passing by totaling five assists at halftime. In fact, New York as a team did a great job of passing the ball around and had 17 assists compared to Cleveland's nine at the break and led 53-49.
-- Following his offensive flurry to end the half, Hart completely caught fire in the third quarter, especially from deep, and went 3-for-3 behind the line, all assisted by Brunson. His third three-pointer of the quarter gave him 24 points. Speaking of Brunson, the point guard had six assists in the third quarter alone and finished with a playoff career-high 14.
For Hart's part, he added seven dimes to go along with his game-high 26 points, as well as four rebounds and two steals.
After outscoring the Cavs 32-21 in the third quarter, the Knicks' lead ballooned to as high as 19 points.
-- The fourth quarter started ice cold for New York, with Cleveland going on an 8-0 run, mostly off free throws, to get the game to within striking distance. But the Knicks' offense eventually won out and put an end to any inkling of a Cavs comeback. Anunoby and Bridges hit some key shots before Brunson got to work late in the game, finishing with 19 points.
New York's starting five all finished in double-digits. Bridges had 19, Towns had 18 with 13 rebounds and Anunoby had 14. Brunson ended with a double-double, his eighth playoff double-double and 61st of his career.
-- The Knicks have now won nine straight playoff games with a +212 point differential in that stretch.
Game MVP: Josh Hart
It was Hart's scoring outburst in the third quarter that took the game from close to a blowout.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers chose to give up an inexplicably large run earlier in Game 2 than they did on Tuesday. Eighteen unanswered points from the New York Knicks turned what was a tie game into an insurmountable lead, given how Cleveland shot the ball. The Knicks cruised to an easy 109-93 victory to take a 2-0 series lead.
Donovan Mitchell’s lack of mobility is the main concern coming out of this game.
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson has been asked repeatedly about Mitchell’s health, but says that he doesn’t know of any injuries. However, something is clearly bothering Mitchell. The burst and explosiveness just weren’t there in Game 2.
If Mitchell isn’t 100%, it’s difficult to see the Cavs getting back into this series.
Despite the poor ending, Cleveland got off to a strong start.
Evan Mobley’s 10 first-quarter points allowed the Cavs to weather the initial storm. He promptly knocked down a couple of triples, then went to work inside to jumpstart the Cavs’ offense. That, combined with Cleveland going 5-10 from three, was good enough to give them a narrow 27-24 lead after one.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the comfortable Cavs hoodie HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Cleveland’s offense faltered in the second quarter. They created numerous good outside looks, including wide-open threes for Sam Merrill, but they couldn’t get many to fall. They went 1-11 from three in a 22-point quarter. That would be a theme throughout the rest of the game.
New York couldn’t use the poor shooting from Cleveland to pull away. They went just 4-11 from three themselves, but were able to do enough inside the arc to come away with a four-point lead at the break.
The Knicks took control in the third quarter.
Cleveland’s offense completely disappeared, going scoreless for five-and-a-half minutes. The Cavs couldn’t reliably get into the paint, and they couldn’t convert the clean outside looks they got.
The Knicks scored 18 unanswered by doing the opposite. They doubled up Cleveland’s attempts at the rim while also going 5-10 from three in the third.
Josh Hart, whom the Cavs were willing to let shoot threes in Game 1, got going in the third quarter. He scored 12 of his 24 points in that frame, going 4-6 from the field and 3-3 from distance. New York used that momentum to end the third with a 15-point advantage.
The Cavs fought back some in the fourth quarter, but it was a little too late. They cut the deficit to seven, but weren’t able to get enough stops or convert enough from beyond the arc to get much closer.
Poor shooting did the Cavs in. They went just 9-35 from three (25.7%) after hitting only 32% of their outside looks in Game 1.
The poor shooting in Game 1 made a little more sense. Some of those outside looks came from players they were okay giving up those shots to, like Mobley, who took eight. That wasn’t the case in Game 2.
Sam Merrill went 0-7 from three. Nearly all of those looks were about as clean as you could possibly hope for. The same could be said for Max Strus (1-4), Mitchell (2-7), and Jaylon Tyson (0-3).
Those shooting struggles extended to the free-throw line, with the Cavs missing 10 of their 32 foul shots.
Mitchell, despite being hobbled, led Cleveland in scoring. He had 26 points on 8-18 shooting with just one assist.
Mobley had 10 points in the first quarter. It seemed like it was going to be a promising night for him, but he wasn’t able to get enough touches after the hot start to really get anything going. He attempted just two shots in the final three quarters, finishing with 14 points on 5-8 shooting with six rebounds.
James Harden had 18 points on 6-15 shooting with two assists and no turnovers. Jarrett Allen contributed 13 points on 5-10 shooting with 10 rebounds.
Hart led the Knicks with 26 points on 10-21 shooting, which included going 5-11 from three. The rest of the Knicks starters finished with double-digit points: Jalen Brunson (19), Mikal Bridges (19), Karl-Anthony Towns (18), and OG Anunoby (14).
Brunson contributed 14 assists, which is one more than the Cavs did as a team.
The Cavs’ backs are against the wall. They need to win Game 3 to effectively keep their season alive. We’ll see if they can climb out of a 2-0 hole again as they did against the Detroit Pistons.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks reacts against Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the hole, facing an 0-2 deficit for the second straight round. They host the New York Knicks on Saturday for Game 3.
Let’s go over today’s losers.
LOSER – Ignoring Josh Hart
The Cavs haven’t made it a secret that they’re ignoring Josh Hart on the perimeter. They’ve had Jarrett Allen guard (or not guard him), cheating way into the paint and allowing Hart to fire away as often as he wants.
This strategy worked for the Cavs in the previous rounds. They found success ignoring Detroit’s Ausaur Thompson in the same way. The only problem is, Hart is a far better shooter than anyone the Cavs have given this treatment to in the past.
Hart shot 41.3% from downtown this season. Granted, his attempts are some of the highest quality in the league as teams are content with daring him to shoot. Still, it’s hard to hit more than 40% of your three-pointers. For comparison, Thompson shot just 25% from deep this year.
Cleveland won their bet in Game 1. Hart shot 1-5 from the three-point line and wasn’t able to make them pay. But this is playing with fire. And Hart found his stride by hitting 5-of-11 three-pointers in Game 2. The Cavs continued to leave him open even after his third triple sank. It was maddening to watch Hart nail two more triples without facing any defensive pressure.
Kenny Atkinson is a process-oriented coach. He has a plan and stick to it, regardless of the results. That can lead him to sticking through some painful stretches of basketball, whereas other coaches migth be quicker to read the moment and adjust.
The Cavs could have used an adjustment tonight.
LOSER – Sam Merrill
I speak for everyone when I say I wondered how losing Game 1 would impact the Cavs tonight. What I didn’t expect, however, was for Sam Merrill to be the one seemingly most effected,
Merrill had a great opportunity to win the game at the end of regulation in Game 1. He took a shot he’s nailed hundreds of times before, watching it hit every part of the rim and bounce out. I can’t say for certain, but it looked like missing that shot messed with Merrill’s focus in Game 2.
The Cavs generated a ton of clean looks for Merrill tonight. Despite this, he ended the game 0-7 from downtown, missing some of the easiest shots he’s had all year. He even missed 2-4 free throws, something that comes as a surprise for 85% free throw shooter.
Merrill wasn’t the only one who struggled from deep. Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson and Dennis Schroder shot a combined 1-8. A few makes from anyone on the bench would have gone a long way to making this game feel more competetive in the second half.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden weren’t great either. The backcourt shot 5-14 from deep.
Still, I have to focus on Merrill, who is held to a higher standard as the team’s best shooter. We know this type of game can happen to anybody, but I’ll be watching closely to see if he can shake this off and get back to being himself.
LOSER – James Harden
The Cavs are in an impossible position with Harden.
There is nowhere to hide him on defense. New York has too many creators and is too dynamic offensively for Harden to find any solace. He has to defend someone, and sometimes, that means he’ll have to defend Jalen Brunson.
We didn’t see Brunson erase a 22 point deficit by targeting Harden tonight. But we did watch him get whatever he wanted whenever the beard was in front of him. You might ask why the Cavs aren’t working harder to avoid those situations.
Let me explain why by going over their other options.
Option 1: Hedge and recover
Hedging a ball screen requires effort. A lot of it.
I’m not going to kick a man while he’s down, but I think it’s fair to say that defensive effort has never been Harden’s strength. I’m also not sure if he has the foot speed at 36 years old to push Brunson away from the screen and then rush to recover to the screener.
So, we can just take this option off the board. It’s not happening.
Option 2: Trap the ball
Okay, we can’t have Harden hedge to avoid the switch. Not without conceding a massive disadvantage, at least.
What if we trapped the ball?
Sending two to Brunson and forcing him to give it up will at least add some organization to the chaos. It’s easier to funnel the ball to certain spots on the floor when you’re prepared to send two to the ball.
But, that only works if the trap is aggressive. That means rushing the ball, being physical, and actively working to take away passing lanes.
Not… standing around in no-mans land.
Harden doesn’t play with enough urgency on defense to properly trap a ball-handler. And, he doesn’t hustle back into the play to keep the Knicks from taking full advantage of the numebrs game.
So, take this option away too.
Option 3: Just play defense!
You can scheme all you want. At the end of the day, there’s two sides to the floor, and you have to play them both to win a championship.
This wouldn’t be such a topic of discussion if Harden could meet the moment. Provide resistance, make it difficult for the Knicks to target him. Or, even just win a few individual battles by getting lucky.
None of that has happened.
This isn’t anything new for Harden, and that’s where the biggest concern comes from.
Can he change the narrative and get back into this fight? Or will the Cavs be bold enough to bench him? If they did that, I don’t know if they have a chance at running an efficient offense.
There’s really no winning here. The only path forward is taking the challenge and actually playing defense.
You could feel it happening in real time. Beforehand, you could see it coming from a mile away.
The Cavaliers unraveled, like they did in Game 1. The Knicks clicked into gear, as they have repeatedly during this nine-game tour de force.
At this point, it all felt inevitable, this 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. There is a predictable nature — in all the best ways — about these Knicks at the moment.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart goes up for a shot in the second quarter of Game 2 on May 21, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After a sluggish first-half showing offensively, the Knicks erupted for 32 points — by way of an electric 18-0 run — in the third quarter. They outscored the Cavaliers 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.
Madison Square Garden grew a bit uneasy as the Knicks started the fourth quarter slowly, saw their lead cut to single digits and 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.
They put themselves within two wins of the Finals with a commanding win Thursday night and a comfortable 2-0 series lead.
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 letting Hart go unguarded allowed the Cavs big man 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.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns drives to the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade gives chase. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hart, after starting 0-for-3 from deep, was visibly frustrated.
“I don’t know if we can say what he was saying to himself out loud,” Karl-Anthony Towns said.
But Hart — and coach Mike Brown’s trust in him — did not waver. Hart 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 — a playoff career high — along with seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
“He’s a gamer,” Brown said. “When you have guys that are gamers, they do stuff that people don’t think that they can do at any time. He knows the work that he puts in, we know the work that he puts in and his confidence is not gonna waver. … If Jarrett Allen wants to play in the paint, shoot it.”
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges celebrates with New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
And Brunson’s historically quiet first half predictably didn’t last.
He had seven points and six assists in the third quarter. He finished with 19 points and 14 assists, the latter of which was a playoff career high and the most by a Knick in a playoff game since Charlie Ward in 1998.
As the Cavs kept doubling him, he kept finding open teammates. Once those teammates started hitting open shots, the dynamic Knicks offense returned in full force.
Knicks Merch Shop
SOAR wireless speaker and bottle opener
Customizable jersey
Hydrapeak 30-ounce stainless steel tumbler
ZHATS adjustable cap
Pro Standard double knit full zip hoodie
Ultra Game team crew socks (3-pack)
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
“It shows the confidence that he has in us,” Hart said. “And the depth of a team that we have. … It just shows the character of the team, character of him. It shows we can win games in different ways.”
Towns was aggressive early with 13 first-half points. He finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Mikal Bridges, continuing his stellar performances the past two series, finished with 19 points on efficient 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. And he again played strong defense on James Harden. Bridges and Towns helped keep the Knicks afloat during their first-half slog.
And OG Anunoby kept knocking off his rust, adding 14 points.
As a team, the Knicks made the Cavs’ prolific shot-blockers — Allen and Evan Mobley — irrelevant. They had a 58-40 advantage in points in the paint.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson puts up a shot while surrounded by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
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.
The Knicks, on the other hand, keep surging. They have the best point differential (plus-221) across the first 12 games of a postseason in NBA history. The five teams below them all won championships.
“The most important thing is that we’re growing and learning together,” Brunson said. “No matter what the situation is, whatever the series is or whatever, we’re open to getting better, open to figuring out how to win games, trusting each other.
“It’s a lot of different things.”
These Knicks have so many different ways to beat opponents. So many ways to whip their fans into a frenzy. So many memorable moments this postseason.
New Jersey’s new governor said she wants to bring the Nets back to the Garden State.
But don’t hold your breath. It’s not happening anytime soon.
In a live chat in Newark marking her 100 Days In Office, Governor Mikie Sherrill said there was work being done to bring the team back from Brooklyn. But a league source that spoke with the Post said there were no plans for the Nets to leave Barclays Center.
New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill gives remarks at the Center for American Progress Ideas Conference at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. on May 19, 2026. Reuters
“They’re perfectly happy in Brooklyn,” the highly-placed league source told the Post.
The Nets spent 35 seasons playing in New Jersey: four at Rutgers, 29 more at the Meadowlands and a final two at Prudential Center in Newark, colloquially known as The Rock.
They’ve been in Barclays Center since 2012, which — like the team, and their G League affiliate — is owned by e-commerce billionaire Joe Tsai.
Speaking at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 29 — in a conversation sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health and moderated by NJ.com politics reporter Brent Johnson — Sherrill was asked if she would support prying the Nets out of Brooklyn and bringing them back across the Hudson River.
“I mean, would I support it? I ask about it all the time,” Sherrill said. “I love the idea. So, I have been pressing for that. I haven’t made a lot of headway yet; you know, maybe in my second 100 days.
“But I do think there is some work being done for some — I don’t know if I’m allowed to say too much about it — but some people are working on some different sports coming into the Rock.”
Whatever different sports those are, they don’t currently include the Nets — either the Brooklyn version or Long Island. Any move would have to go through the NBA office, and there have been no talks of such.
“There have been no conversations with (Nets) ownership or leadership and the governor or her administration,” the highly-placed league confirmed to the Post. “[They] have no plans to bring the Brooklyn Nets back to New Jersey.”
Though Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment — Tsai’s holding company that actually runs the Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, New York Liberty and Barclays Center — is believed to still own the trademark for the New Jersey Nets name, the team isn’t leaving Barclays Center, with owning a team together with their host arena the cleanest avenue for profitability in the NBA.
The Nets averaged 17,412 fans this season, or 99.22 percent capacity, even during a tanking campaign that saw them go just 20-62.
G League affiliate Long Island has been playing at Nassau Coliseum, but is also not expected to be heading to New Jersey.
New York Knicks' Josh Hart (3) argues for a call with an official during the first half of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in New York.
Josh Hart redeemed himself for his Game 1 blunders by being the main offensive factor for the Knicks in their Game 2 victory over the Cavaliers.
Hart put up 26 points (a playoff career high), seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 5-for-11 from beyond the arc in the Knicks’ 109-93 win.
Hart was benched down the stretch during the Knicks’ overtime 115-114 Game 1 win over the Cavaliers on Tuesday, posting a team-worst minus-23 rating in 30 minutes.
Hart said his “feel for the game” helped him in a big way Thursday.
“I’m never a huge analytics guy. At some point, they’re a lamppost to a drunk person,” Hart said. “You can lean on them. But they won’t get you home. So at a certain point, you got to have a good feel for the game.”
New York Knicks’ Josh Hart (3) argues for a call with an official during the first half of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
He struggled from beyond the arc on Tuesday, going 1-for- 5, with four of his deep balls barely hitting the rim.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown opted for Landry Shamet at the end of Game 1.
Shamet hit the game-tying 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation.
“That’s always difficult, watching it on the bench,” Hart said Wednesday. “Obviously, I want to be out there. I want to help my guys win, but at the end of the day, for me, I don’t have an ego to it. I approach this game with extreme humility.
Knicks Merch Shop
SOAR wireless speaker and bottle opener
Customizable jersey
Hydrapeak 30-ounce stainless steel tumbler
ZHATS adjustable cap
Pro Standard double knit full zip hoodie
Ultra Game team crew socks (3-pack)
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
“I’m here to serve these guys … [to] make sure they’re in the best position to be successful. I put the success of the team over the success of myself any day.”
May 21, 2026; New York, New York, USA; American actors Jason Bateman (left) and Jason Sudeikis in attendance during the second quarter of game two of the eastern conference finals...
A magical Game 1 win brought the Knicks’ most famous fans out for more.
Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden was packed as always, with regulars and Knicks superfans Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller leading the charge alongside Tracy Morgan and Spike Lee for Game 2 against the Cavaliers.
Stiller’s hype for the second game of the Eastern Conference began well before he entered the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman and Chris Rock were also in attendance.
Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis are pictured during the Knicks’ May 21 game. Imagn Images
What would a Knicks playoff game be without some of the franchise’s own?
A cadre of alumni took in the action, with John Starks, Patrick Ewing, Stephon Marbury and Walt “Clyde” Frazier watching the current generation of stars — sometimes a little too close, as Starks and Marbury nearly took their courtside celebrations onto the parquet during Monday’s series opener.
Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg sat courtside as well.
Current mayor Zohran Mamdani sat up high alongside public advocate Jumaane Williams as concerns over a potential curse loomed over his presence following an appearance at a Mets game that preceded an 11-game losing streak, NY1 reported.
San Antonio's De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, as well as Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, are all listed as questionable for Game 3 Friday night in San Antonio.
Fox, the Spurs' starting point guard, has missed both games this series with a sprained ankle suffered in the previous round against Minnesota. He worked out on the court prior to Game 2, before the decision that he would not play was announced. In his case, expect this to be another game-time decision.
Harper stepped into San Antonio's starting lineup with Fox out and had a breakout Game 1, where he scored 24 points to help spark the Spurs' 2OT win. However, he had to leave Game 2 in the third quarter with what the Spurs are now listing as adductor soreness. The adductor, like the hamstring, is a muscle that is easy to re-injure or worsen if not fully healed before returning to play, so don't be surprised if he sits out a game or games. Without two of their three primary ball handlers at the end of the game, it put a lot of pressure on the Spurs' Stephon Castle to be the team's primary shot creator. He's taken on a lot more of the ball handling load while going against the high-pressure defense of the Thunder, and the result is that Castle has 20 turnovers across the two games so far.
OKC's Williams missed half of the Thunder's first-round series against the Suns and the entire series against the Lakers with a left hamstring strain, and he appeared to re-injure that same muscle in the first quarter of Game 2. He received treatment on the bench for a while, then eventually went back to the locker room but did not return to the game. The team considers him day-to-day, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Williams scored 26 points in Game 1. The Thunder are used to playing without Williams, who took the court just 33 times this season due to wrist and right hamstring issues. That said, the Thunder will need contributions from everyone in what is a very even, tightly contested series.
Walt Frazier believes how Harden performs the rest of the series, however long it lasts, will be remembered for a long time.
“This is where Harden is now. He’s come to the fork in the road. Which way is he going to go? His legacy is on the line,” the legendary Knick said on The Post’s “Schein Time” with Adam Schein on Thursday afternoon. “If he gets torched again, he’s done. His career is over. This is all people are going to remember, this series. Not what he did in the regular season, but what he did in the playoffs.”
Harden has only reached the NBA Finals once, back in 2012, and he may not get another chance, at age 36.
Frazier does think that Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson is making the right decision by sticking with Harden despite his struggles.
Jalen Brunson attempts a shot during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Cavaliers on May 19, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg
“So if I’m Kenny Atkinson, I put Harden back in the game [in crunch time]. I don’t punish him, I encourage him,” Frazier said. “When we were in the playoffs and we were playing the Bullets, Red Holzman pulled me in the corner [and said], ‘Hey, Clyde, forget about offense, just focus on defense on Earl [Monroe]. Forget about offense. Don’t think about offense.’
“If I'm Kenny Atkinson, I put Harden back in the game."
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 21, 2026
“If I’m Kenny Atkinson, I go to Harden, and say, ‘Hey, man, I’m putting you back in there. This is why we acquired you. Look at your career. I know what you’ve done, you can do it.’ I leave it all up to him. This is what coach [Mike] Brown did to [Mikal] Bridges. Remember when Bridges was floundering? Everybody said take him out of the lineup. He didn’t take him out; [he] put him out there and now look at what Bridges is doing.”
James Harden reacts during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Cavaliers on May 19, 2026. Charles WenzelbergWalt Frazier is pictured during the Knicks’ April 28 game. NBAE via Getty Images
Harden was the goat of the series opener, shredded by Brunson in the Knicks’ wild comeback.
It was also the sixth different playoff game in which Harden committed more turnovers than made field goals.
Atkinson has defended Harden and hasn’t second-guessed his decision to stick with him.
The Liberty open their seven-game homestand Thursday against the Golden State Valkyries.
But as that game tips off at Barclays Center, the Knicks will simultaneously start Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers across the East River at Madison Square Garden.
Talk about a good time to be a New York basketball fan.
We’ve got you covered on the Liberty beat
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.
“They deserve it,” Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said after shootaround. “My dad’s from New York, I lived in Long Island, I like the teams he likes so I’ve grown up, I know what it was like some close calls, being able to win one in New York, so New York deserves it, for sure.”
DeMarco, of course, is keeping an eye on the basketball action happening in the other borough.
The longtime Warriors assistant and hoops junkie attended Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday and witnessed Jalen Brunson help the Knicks mount an improbable 22-point comeback to force overtime, where New York ultimately won.
DeMarco, who’s worked alongside both Knicks head coach Mike Brown and Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson on the Warriors staff, won’t publicly pick a side in this series, but he lauded both of his friends and former coworkers.
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco reacts during game against the Connecticut Sun Michelle Farsi/New York Post
“I’m watching the series closely,” DeMarco said. “It’s pretty cool to watch, they’re battling to go to the Finals.”
Brown and Atkinson overlapped on Steve Kerr’s staff for only the 2021-22 season, the same campaign the Warriors won their fourth championship in eight years.
DeMarco was along for all six of the Warriors’ NBA Finals runs during his 13-year tenure. The longtime assistant coach worked his way up from roles in the video room and player development to eventually be in charge of the team’s defense.
The Knicks on Tuesday were successful at slowing down Harden, something DeMarco is familiar with doing.
Chris DeMarco and Mike Brown of the Golden State Warriors pose for a photo during the Warriors Victory Parade on June 12, 2018 in Oakland. NBAE via Getty Images
Obviously the current version of Harden is far different from the bearded man who led the Rockets a decade ago. DeMarco aided the Warriors in figuring out a plan to wear down Harden over the course of a seven-game series, and Brown divulged that “secret” after Tuesday’s win.
“When I was at Golden State, we played Houston in the playoffs, we counted James Harden’s dribbles,” Brown told reporters. “We told our guys, ‘He’s dribbling close to a thousand times… Keep picking him up full court, keep making him dribble because at the end of the series, at the end of games, it’s going to wear him down.’
“And did it? Probably not,” Brown continued, “but you say stuff like that to help give your guys a psychological advantage.”
DeMarco recalled tracking Harden when the Warriors faced the Rockets in the postseason. He said examining those details to create a game plan is one of his favorite parts of the playoffs.
“In that specific series with Houston, it was about having James heavily handle the ball, and one, what that would do to his fatigue or… just his overall being able to produce through a seven-game series and then what it did to the others if he’s dribbling the whole game so you look at all of that stuff,” DeMarco said. “Houston was always one of the most competitive teams we played and those were always battles.”
The Warriors were quite successful against Harden, beating the Rockets in the 2015 Western Conference finals, the 2016 first round, the 2018 Western Conference finals and the 2019 second round.
Golden State went 16-7 in the playoffs against the Rockets during Harden’s era.
Harden’s ballhandling responsibilities aren’t as consuming with the Cavaliers thanks to Donovan Mitchell. But that mentality of wearing an opponent down to eventually pounce held true for the Knicks.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 02: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
Grayson Allen arrived in Phoenix right before the 2023 season in that three-team deal involving Deandre Ayton, Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, and Toumani Camara. He has been a steady force, whether off the bench or in a starting role, for Phoenix over the past three seasons; he’s fit right in like a glove.
Grayson has been a low-maintenance role player who has more to his game than you’d think once you get a closer look. He is not “just” a shooter. He is a legitimate athletic downhill threat and secondary playmaker.
Allen missed 32 games, but even with a down year relative to his three-point shooting, he showcased why he is one of the best value contracts on the team, posting career highs in scoring and assists.
Expanded Role, Not Regression
Let’s address the elephant in the room right away. Allen’s 2025-26 season naturally leaves you a bit cautious. Missing 32 games and watching his usually lethal three-point efficiency dip to 34.9% (alongside a 40.3% overall field-goal percentage) are some yellow flags of caution to monitor. That said, he did average a career-high in PPG (16.5), APG (3.8), and 3PFGA (8.9) this season.
The increase in volume, along with a couple of rough shooting stretches and injury woes, is more than likely the culprit for the dip in efficiency. In his expanded role, the volume was there, the aggressiveness was there, and the defense remained mostly steady. On a guard-heavy roster where every single contract matters, a down year from your premium floor-spacer triggers concern; that’s only fair.
Let’s not forget he dropped a career-high 42 points to go with a franchise-best 10 three pointers in a win over the Pelicans in November!
Grayson Allen is an easy player to take for granted. Plenty of teams could use an efficient floor-spacing guard that competes on both ends and makes the right play more often than not. He is athletic and has excellent footwork and deceleration skills on the move.
Grayson Allen concludes his regular season with career highs in points (16.5) and assists (3.8) while playing under 30 minutes per game.
Most drives he’s ever had in his career with 530. Helped generate 517 points off his assists, which is 154 more than last season.
With the Suns’ sudden influx of guard depth, it is incredibly easy to fall into the trap of viewing Allen as expendable. But trading away a high-IQ, plug-and-play volume shooter just to balance out a positional spreadsheet is how good teams accidentally slide back into mediocrity.
1. Perimeter Gravity + Downhill threat
Even in a self-described “down” shooting year, Allen still canned 3.1 triples a night. Opposing coaching staffs don’t look at his season percentage on a scouting report and decide to leave him open; they respect the quick release and the proven history.
When Devin Booker is hunting paint touches or running the offense, the floor geometry completely changes depending on whether Allen is standing on the wing. His gravity is far more than a luxury. It’s a necessity. And he can aggressively attack closeouts and put the ball on the deck. As mentioned above, he is not just a shooter.
The modern NBA is defined by premium wing depth. Teams are constantly scouring the market, desperate to find players who can hit open shots, execute extra passes, and defend multiple perimeter positions without demanding heavy usage.
Grayson Allen is exactly what every contending front office is searching for. Having that piece already in-house is a massive competitive advantage.
Grayson Allen is still on a relatively friendly contract heading into next season at $18.1 million, which accounts for roughly 11% of the salary cap. He holds a player option for $19.4 million the following year. In an era where the second apron and tightening financial restrictions can paralyze a front office, having a highly productive asset locked in at roughly 11% of the cap is an incredibly team-friendly, movable contract sitting right in a mid-tier sweet spot.
And for that same reason, it’s why he’s come up in potential trade talks, which I’m not against if the RIGHT deal comes along that addresses their weaknesses. Trading him just to trade him is a mistake.
Closing Thought
Guard depth is a position of strength, not a flaw that requires a panicked correction. Unless a landscape-altering frontcourt piece becomes available via a consolidated package, keeping Allen’s spacing, elite perimeter gravity, contract flexibility, and competitive fire in the Valley is the smartest path forward.
If the perfect deal comes along that moves the needle, I’m okay dealing from a position of strength. Otherwise, let’s welcome Grasyon back to the Valley with open arms.
"I don't know that."
Grayson Allen when asked about the Suns making roster changes in the offseason.
"I haven't thought about that. I like our group. I think we have a good chance to keep a lot of people together." #Sunspic.twitter.com/3UbYsTcgbH
“Last post before I delete this app,” Robinson wrote on Facebook on Thursday afternoon, just a few hours before Game 2. “I finally have changed my number for many reason [sic] … as I fight through and keep fighting in this playoffs run my focus have to go to another level. This is the start of a new chapter in my life. Love and will miss y’all … Mitch out.”
Robinson has never been shy in letting his thoughts be known on social media.
He has opened up about his mental health and at times complained about his role in the Knicks offense.
On the lighter side, he constantly posts pictures and videos of his trucks.
Mitchell Robinson chases after a loose ball during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over over the Cavaliers on May 19, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg
It’s also hurt his wallet.
Both he and the Hawks’ Dyson Daniels were fined by the NBA for their roles in a heated fracas during Game 6 of their first-round series earlier this postseason.
Mitchell Robinson addresses reporters during a May 3 press conference. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
But Robinson was docked $50,000 — twice the penalty Daniels received — because of a vulgar video shared afterward as an Instagram story.
After such an emotional Game 1, did the coaching staff have to talk about settling down and being ready again for Game 2?
“We have a veteran group,” coach Mike Brown said. “Any time you’re in the playoffs, you obviously need a little bit of talent, you need a little bit of luck and then you need skill. All those things came to play for us coming back from [22] points down with that little bit of time to go. I think our guys understand that we got away with one and we don’t want to put ourselves in that position again because Cleveland is a great team, they’re well coached and they have great players on that team. They’re not gonna let that opportunity slip through their hands again.
“We’ve talked about that but not necessarily about the emotional part.”
The Knicks were not in their normal home uniforms for Game 2 on Thursday night, instead wearing their Statement Edition jerseys.
Talk to people around the league and the running joke is that new Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon is shopping for the team's next head coach at the 99¢ Store, trying to find a bargain. Dundon has denied he is trying to hire a coach on the cheap, and the latest report suggests he's at least looking at a more expensive coach.
Current Clippers assistant and former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy is one of the finalists for the Trail Blazers' job, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Van Gundy's name has popped up in several job searches recently, though he hasn't been a head coach in 19 years (his last head coaching job was with the Rockets in 2007). Since then, he has been a lead broadcast analyst for ESPN/ABC, before becoming the defensive coordinator on Tyronn Lue's Clippers staff the past two seasons.
Portland and team president Joe Cronin are known to be casting a wide net in the search to replace interim coach Tiago Splitter. While Splitter did an impressive job considering he was thrown into the big chair after the arrest of Chauncey Billups one game into the season, the buzz around the league has been that Dundon wanted to go in a different (ideally cheaper) direction.
It is rumored that Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori is a candidate for the job. Also, former Portland coach Terry Stotts — who spent last season on Steve Kerr's bench in Golden State — said he would love to come back to Portland.
What all three of those coaches — Van Gundy, Nori and Stotts — have in common is they are not coming cheap. What direction Dundon and the Trail Blazers ultimately go remains to be seen, but this is a roster with some promising young players such as Deni Avdija, plus quality veteran guards in Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard (expected to return after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles).
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: James Harden #1 and head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers speak during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1 was fun, I guess. Let’s see what pain this one brings.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
