New York Knicks win Game 1 OT

The New York Knicks opened the Eastern Conference finals with a 115-104 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 19, overcoming a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson scored 38 points, and New York closed the game on a 44-11 run after trailing for most of the night. The comeback gave the Knicks a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and extended their playoff winning streak to eight games. Cleveland, which had controlled the game through three quarters, managed only three points in overtime. ### How big was the comeback? The Knicks trailed by 22 points with less than eight minutes left in regulation before reversing the game. NBA.com said the league had been 1-521 this season when trailing by at least 20 points in the fourth quarter, and 3-748 in playoff games over the last 30 years under the same condition. New York outscored Cleveland 32-18 in the fourth quarter and 14-3 in overtime. (nba.com) The final margin looked comfortable, but the box score shows the Cavaliers led 83-69 entering the fourth and still had a double-digit cushion late before the Knicks’ closing burst. ### What did Brunson do late? Brunson finished 15-for-29 from the field and added six assists in 46 minutes. (nba.com) NBA.com said he scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as New York repeatedly used screens to force Cleveland switches and create driving lanes for him late. The Knicks also got 18 points from Mikal Bridges, 13 points and 13 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns, and 13 points each from OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. (sportsdata.usatoday.com) Brunson was the only New York player above 20 points, but five Knicks reached double figures. ### How did Cleveland let it get away? Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 29 points, and Evan Mobley had 15 points and 14 rebounds. (nba.com) The Cavaliers shot 40.0% from the field, committed 19 turnovers and went 16-for-50 from three-point range, according to the NBA box score. James Harden scored 15 points for Cleveland but shot 5-for-16 and committed six turnovers. (nba.com) NBA.com’s game analysis said Brunson repeatedly targeted Harden in screening actions during the comeback, forcing switches that New York turned into late baskets. ### What changed in overtime? Overtime was one-sided from the opening possession. New York scored 14 points in the extra period while Cleveland managed three, with the Cavaliers missing shots and turning the ball over as the Knicks kept attacking in the half court. (nba.com) Madison Square Garden had not seen a finish like that in this postseason. (nba.com) NBA.com described it as a 22-point fourth-quarter comeback, and the result immediately flipped home-court pressure in the series after Cleveland had reached the conference finals through a longer semifinal route. (sportsdata.usatoday.com) ### What comes next in the series? Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. ET, with ESPN listed as the broadcaster on the NBA playoff schedule. NBA.com’s series page shows New York leading 1-0, with Game 3 set for May 23 and Game 4 for May 25. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin June 3 on ABC, according to ESPN’s playoff schedule. For now, the next step is clear: Cleveland will try to level the series in Game 2, and New York will try to take a 2-0 lead before the series shifts. (nba.com) (espn.com) (nba.com)