After a heartbreaker in Game 1, the Cleveland Cavaliers came out in the first half with a solid effort, but the New York Knicks used a balanced attack to take it home with a strong third-quarter run that was too much for the Wine and Gold to overcome with a 109-93 loss in Game 2.

The Cavs are now in a 2-0 hole for the second straight series, meaning they'll have to take four of the next five to get to the NBA Finals. It makes Saturday at Rocket Arena a pivotal point in their season and in these Eastern Conference Finals

Spencer German and Spencer Davies analyzed the latest defeat to the Knicks in the newest edition of Courtside with Cavs.

Topics of the latest show include the following:

- The Cavs were encouraged by their offensive process in Game 2, but the problem was that they were cold as ice, particularly Sam Merrill early. They shot a frigid 31-of-80 from the field and 9-of-35 from long range. There was little scoring production from the bench, and it was too much of a hill to climb.

- Despite a cold second quarter, Cleveland was only down by four at halftime. After it tied the game at 53, the Knicks went on an 18-0 run from the 10:09 to 5:35 mark, forcing the road team to swim upstream the rest of the way. It was another drought that proved to be costly.  

- Jalen Brunson was brilliant as a playmaker in Game 2 after coming to the rescue on Tuesday. With mixed coverages and different looks, he was making the right plays and involving his teammates. Karl-Anthony Towns was aggressive and getting downhill, Josh Hart made the Cavs' pay for their "leave him" defensive strategy, and Mikal Bridges was especially effective in the middle of the key.

- Cleveland's legs looked heavy as the game progressed, despite making it a seven-point game early in the fourth quarter. Though there is never a question with this group's mental toughness, the physical toll may be catching up as the postseason gets later in the calendar.

- Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson reinserted Jaylon Tyson into the rotation for the first time in a few games, and the second-year swingman provided defense and rebounding. Unfortunately, his three-point shot has not been falling, and his role in the offense has fluctuated as a role player. It's a tough adjustment for somebody with little experience at the postseason stage.

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