The Knicks star didn't offer any excuses for the dismal Game 2 showing.

"They just played better," he said of the Cavs. "We've just got to come back on Friday, stick together the next couple of days, and get ready to go."

Brunson scored a hard-fought 20 in the effort, absorbing multiple limbs while trying to help the Knicks find their game. He took a couple of swats to the face -- including one from teammate Julius Randle -- but if he's feeling any lingering pain, it wasn't showing.

The same could be said of guard Josh Hart, who was a game-time decision after testing out his sprained ankle in warmups. Despite his rough outing -- 5 points, -29 differential -- there were no physical setbacks with a few days off before Game 3.

"If I'm out there, I'm solid," he said. "No excuses."

Thibs told reporters after the game he left Julius Randle in to try and get him into a rhythm for Game 3, though that plan almost backfired after the All-Star was fouled hard late in the fourth quarter.

Luckily, Randle seemed to escape any real damage, though his coach wasn't weighing in on Jarrett Allen's flagrant foul just yet.

“It’s playoffs. I saw a quick replay. Before I comment, I want to see it.”

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has only begun to unpack where things went wrong on Tuesday.

The Knicks racked up 17 turnovers, including six by Julius Randle.

They were out-rebounded 54-44, including 32-13 in the Cavs' half.

There's definitely a lot to break down over the next few days.

CLEVELAND – Chants of “New York Sucks” bounced off the walls of deafening Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

The Cavaliers were up 20 points, and it wasn’t even halftime yet.

It didn’t get much better for the Knicks over the final 24 minutes of this one-sided beatdown.

Consider Tuesday night a reminder that Cleveland, a heavy favorite entering this best-of-seven, opening-round series, isn’t going anywhere.

It certainly looked like the considerably better team three days after the Knicks snatched home-court advantage with a thrilling Game 1 victory.

As they promised, the Cavaliers punched back in Game 2 and the Knicks didn’t have any answers.

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The Knicks will head home tied 1-1 after falling 107-90 to the Cavs in Game 2.

The 17-point deficit doesn't exactly tell the whole story as the Knicks trailed by over 20 in the second half, struggling to hit shots -- or stop the Cleveland from making its own.

Everyone is back in action on Friday, when the series shifts to the Garden and hopefully friendlier confines for the Knicks.

Julius Randle hit the floor hard after being fouled by Jarrett Allen as Randle went up for a dunk in the waning minutes of Game 2.

Allen was hit with a flagrant, sending Randle to the line, though it begs the question: with the Cavs up 20, why is the Knicks star (among others) still in the game?

Cameras caught Allen pleading his case that it was a "hustle play," though no one involved should have really been in that position anyway.

With the Cavs up 103-76 and just over three minutes left, 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 aren't finding answers anywhere tonight.

They're just five of 22 from three and 20 of 61 overall.

Crazier things have happened in a quarter, but the Knicks seem destined to head home with a series split.

The Knicks ended up on the bad side of the history books with that first-half clunker.

Ben Stiller, aka Rabbi Jake Schram, isn't giving up on the Knicks yet.

While things are going, ehm... rough ... in Cleveland, it's a much different story in the Big Apple, where the Rangers are leading the Devils 3-0 in their first-round series opener.

Maybe the Rangers can lend the Knicks a few points.

The half couldn't come soon enough for the Knicks, who are on the wrong end of a 59-39 score in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers crowd doesn't seem to be making it any easier:

Darius Garland has a game-high 26 for the Cavs on 6 of 10 shooting, while Jalen Brunson's 14 lead the Knicks. Julius Randle is up to 12, but the Knicks will need a lot more out of him if they're going to climb out of this one.