The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-104, in a thrilling overtime match to open the Eastern Conference Finals, turning a near-collapse into one of the franchise’s biggest playoff comebacks in recent years.
Inside a roaring Madison Square Garden, the Knicks erased a 22-point second-half deficit and overwhelmed Cleveland late behind another masterclass from Jalen Brunson, who delivered 38 points, six assists, and three steals in the Game 1 victory.
The result immediately added a historic twist to the NBA postseason. For the first time in league history, both Game 1 matchups of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals went into overtime in the same year.
For much of the night, however, it looked like the Cavaliers were headed toward stealing home-court advantage.
Donovan Mitchell controlled the pace early and sparked Cleveland’s dominance with 29 points and six steals, helping the Cavaliers build a commanding lead through aggressive defense and fast-break execution.
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THE LARGEST PLAYOFF COMEBACK IN NEW YORK KNICKS HISTORY
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Knicks struggled to find rhythm offensively in the first half as Cleveland repeatedly disrupted passing lanes and forced turnovers. But the Knicks slowly regained control once Brunson began attacking more aggressively in the second half.
What started as isolated scoring bursts eventually became a complete momentum shift. The Knicks chipped away at the lead while the atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden grew louder with every defensive stop. By the closing minutes of regulation, Cleveland’s once-comfortable advantage had disappeared completely.
The Knicks carried that momentum into overtime and never looked back. The squad dominated the extra period with tougher defense while Cleveland struggled to recover after letting the game slip away late in regulation.
Another important development for New York came through the return of OG Anunoby, who rejoined the lineup after missing time due to a hamstring injury. His defensive presence helped stabilize the Knicks against Cleveland’s explosive backcourt attack.
Still, the Cavaliers showed throughout the first three quarters that they are fully capable of controlling stretches against New York. That may ultimately be what makes the ending more painful heading into Game 2.
Blowing a 22-point lead on the road in the conference finals can quickly change the emotional tone of a series, especially against a team growing increasingly confident behind Brunson’s leadership.
For the Knicks, though, the comeback served as another reminder of what has defined their postseason run. As long as Brunson is orchestrating the offense, New York believes no deficit is too large and no playoff moment is too overwhelming.
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