The New York Knicks authored one of the greatest comebacks in NBA postseason history Tuesday night, storming back from a 22-point fourth quarter deficit before defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden.
With the victory, New York grabbed a 1-0 lead in the series and moved three wins away from its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
The Knicks looked completely overwhelmed for most of the night. Cleveland, fresh off an impressive postseason run of its own, built a commanding 93-71 lead with just 7:52 remaining in regulation and appeared headed toward another statement road win.
Then Jalen Brunson took over. Brunson relentlessly attacked Cleveland guard James Harden, igniting an electrifying 18-1 run that transformed the atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden. The All-Star guard finished with 38 points, repeatedly slicing through the Cavaliers’ defense as New York clawed back possession by possession.
What once seemed impossible suddenly became inevitable. After trimming the deficit to a single possession, Brunson delivered the defining basket of regulation, tying the game at 101 with 19 seconds left. The Garden crowd erupted as the Knicks completed one of the largest fourth-quarter rallies in playoff history.
The comeback was historic. The only larger fourth quarter playoff comeback in the past 30 years came in 2012, when the Los Angeles Clippers erased a 24-point deficit against Memphis.
Ironically, Brunson said afterward the Knicks’ focus during the late stages of regulation was simply to “finish strong” and build momentum for Game 2 even if they lost the opener.
Instead, New York delivered a finish for the ages. The Knicks dominated overtime from the opening tip, scoring the first nine points of the extra session while a delirious Madison Square Garden crowd danced and roared throughout the arena. Cleveland never recovered as New York closed the game on a staggering 44-11 run after trailing by 22.
Mikal Bridges added 18 points for New York, while OG Anunoby contributed 13 in his return after missing two games with a strained right hamstring. Three Knicks players finished with 13 points as the balanced supporting cast eventually found its rhythm late.
The Knicks have now won eight consecutive playoff games. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell led the way with 29 points, but the Cavaliers unraveled late after controlling most of the contest. Evan Mobley recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Harden finished with 15 points but struggled badly from beyond the arc, shooting just 1-for-8 from three-point range and committing six turnovers.
The Cavaliers entered the series looking dominant after dismantling opponents through the first two rounds, outscoring Atlanta and Philadelphia by a combined 194 points over their first 10 playoff games the largest margin ever at that stage of the postseason. But after a lengthy layoff since May 10, Cleveland appeared to lose its sharpness late as the Knicks’ pressure intensified.
For New York, the comeback carried extra significance after last season’s painful Eastern Conference Finals opener, when the Knicks squandered a 14-point lead and lost in overtime to the Indiana Pacers on their home floor.
This time, the Knicks made sure history swung in their favor. Game 2 will be played Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks will attempt to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before the series shifts to Cleveland.
