Knicks rally from 22 down to beat Cavaliers in overtime

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks just produced the kind of playoff comeback that changes the shape of a series immediately. New York trailed Cleveland by 22 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, looked headed for a flat Game 1 loss after a nine-day layoff, then stormed back for a 115-104 overtime win at Madison Square Garden. Brunson finished with 38 points, tied the game with 19 seconds left in regulation, and drove the run that turned a Cavaliers rout into a Knicks lead in the Eastern Conference finals. The result gave New York a 1-0 series edge and marked the largest playoff comeback in franchise history. ### How big was the hole, and when did the game turn? The Knicks were down 93-71 with 7:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. From there, New York closed regulation on a surge that AP described as one of the NBA’s greatest postseason comebacks, and the Knicks ultimately outscored Cleveland 44-11 from that point through overtime. (apnews.com) Brunson said the message during the rally was simple: “Just keep fighting. Keep chipping away. We’re not going to get it back in one possession.” He then tied the score at 101-101 on a basket with 19 seconds left in regulation before New York opened overtime with a 9-0 run. ### Why did Brunson become the center of it? (apnews.com) Brunson scored a game-high 38 points and repeatedly attacked Cleveland late. AP said he targeted James Harden during an 18-1 run that pulled New York back into the game, and Yahoo Sports said he led the Knicks out of the 22-point hole to secure the opener. The box score on NBA.com lists Brunson as New York’s leading scorer in the 115-104 final, while Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 29 points. (cbssports.com) Mikal Bridges added 18 points for the Knicks, and OG Anunoby finished with 13 after returning from a strained right hamstring that had sidelined him for two games. ### What made the comeback historic? (cbssports.com) The 22-point rally was the largest playoff comeback in Knicks franchise history, according to Yahoo Sports and AP’s game report. The upstream reporting also said it was the biggest playoff comeback seen since 1970. (nba.com) Tuesday’s finish also added another unusual note to this postseason. Yahoo Sports reported that one night after the Western Conference finals opener also went to overtime, it was the first time in NBA history that both conference finals opened with an overtime game. (sports.yahoo.com) ### What did Cleveland say after letting it slip? Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland’s coach, said the Cavaliers had controlled most of the night before the collapse. “We played great basketball tonight for three quarters,” he said. “Unfortunately, the fourth quarter - they dominated us in the fourth quarter.” Cleveland had been on the verge of a third straight road win before New York’s late push. (sports.yahoo.com) Instead, the Cavaliers left Madison Square Garden having lost a game they led comfortably entering the final minutes, with the series now tilted toward the Knicks. ### Did the layoff matter for New York before the rally? May 10 was the Knicks’ previous game before Tuesday, after they completed a second-round sweep of Philadelphia. (cbssports.com) AP said New York looked rusty for most of the night, missing shots early and going 4-for-23 from 3-point range through three quarters before its late reversal. Karl-Anthony Towns said the defense was the part of New York’s identity that reappeared when the game tightened. “It was our defense that has always been special in these playoffs and that has carried us in this playoffs, that showed up in the fourth quarter and in overtime,” Towns said. ### What happens next in the series? (cbssports.com) Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have won eight straight games and now lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals 1-0, with Games 1 and 2 both in New York before the series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday, May 23. (cbssports.com)