Jalen Brunson led a remarkable comeback as the New York Knicks overcame a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime. Brunson’s 38 points spearheaded the Knicks’ victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks found themselves trailing 93-71 with 7:52 remaining. Brunson ignited an 18-1 run by relentlessly attacking James Harden. With 19 seconds left in regulation, he tied the game at 101-101.
Madison Square Garden erupted as the Knicks initiated overtime with a 9-0 run. The Knicks are now three wins away from their first NBA finals appearance since 1999.
Brunson’s Reaction to the Unlikely Win
“I don’t have an answer for you,” Brunson told ESPN when asked how the Knicks staged their comeback. “We got some stops, we kept fighting, kept believing. Just kept chipping away. They were playing great basketball, and we just found a way.”
Mikal Bridges contributed 18 points, and three Knicks players, including OG Anunoby, scored 13 points each. Anunoby’s performance came after he had missed two games through injury.
Cavaliers’ Perspective on the Collapse
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points for the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers had been on track for a third consecutive road win before their late-game struggles.
“Should’ve won the game. Not gonna put it on [complacency or fatigue],” said Mitchell after the game. “Even if there was complacency, we’re up 22 with God knows how much time – eight minutes? We gotta win the game. We didn’t”
Knicks Overcome Initial Struggles
The Knicks had previously dominated Atlanta and Philadelphia. They had a combined 194-point advantage, which marked the largest margin through a team’s first 10 postseason games. But the Knicks struggled early, appearing rusty after not playing since 10 May, when they completed their second-round sweep of the 76ers.
Through three quarters, they were only 4 for 23 on three-pointers and had a poor start to the fourth. A year prior, the Knicks had surrendered a 14-point lead and lost to Indiana in overtime in Game 1 of the conference finals on their home court. This time, they recovered their offense in the nick of time.
- The Knicks rallied from 22 points down in the fourth quarter.
- Brunson scored 38 points.
- The Knicks won 115-104 in overtime.
The Knicks had three comebacks from 20 points behind last year in the postseason. These were their largest comebacks since 1969-70, when they secured their first of two NBA titles.
The Knicks have won eight straight games and will host Game 2 on Thursday.