Knicks take 1-0 series lead with 108-104 OT win over Cavaliers

The New York Knicks opened the Eastern Conference finals with a 115-104 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, May 19, after trailing by 22 points in the second half. Jalen Brunson scored 38 points, and New York outlasted Cleveland at Madison Square Garden to take a 1-0 series lead. NBA.com’s official game page listed the result as a Knicks overtime win after what the league called a 22-point comeback. The loss left Cleveland chasing the series after controlling long stretches of regulation. ### How large was the hole New York climbed out of? The Knicks trailed by 22 points before rallying, according to NBA.com’s official recap. That deficit framed the game as a Cleveland-controlled night until New York’s late push forced overtime. CBS Sports’ recap also described the comeback from 22 down and listed the final score at 115-104. The late swing was decisive enough that Cleveland’s regulation cushion disappeared before the extra period began. ### Who drove the Knicks’ comeback? Jalen Brunson finished with 38 points for New York, according to the NBA box score and multiple game recaps. He was the central scorer in the comeback and the overtime finish. NBA.com’s recap identified Brunson as the lead figure in the rally, while Yahoo’s box-score report also listed him as New York’s top scorer with 38. The Knicks’ offense, which had stalled earlier, found its footing late as Brunson carried possessions and finished key sequences. ### What does the final score tell us about overtime? The final margin was 11 points, but the game was tied at the end of regulation before New York pulled away in overtime. NBA.com’s box score shows the Knicks closed the extra session cleanly after spending most of the night trying to recover. The overtime period mattered because Cleveland had controlled enough of the game to be in position for a road win. Instead, the Cavaliers left Madison Square Garden down 1-0 in the series after failing to close out regulation. ### Why is there confusion about where Game 2 will be? The official NBA schedule shows Game 2 in New York, not Cleveland. NBA.com’s schedule page lists the Eastern Conference finals continuing at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, May 21, before the series moves to Cleveland for Game 3. That matters because some early summaries and secondary posts described Cleveland as the next stop. The league schedule is the controlling source, and it places the first two games in New York. ### What changed for Cleveland after leading most of the way? Cleveland finished regulation without converting its advantage into a win, and the Cavaliers were then outscored in overtime. USA Today’s live game report described the ending as a blown lead, while NBA.com’s recap emphasized the Knicks’ comeback rather than a wire-to-wire exchange. The Cavaliers still had enough offense and defensive control to put New York in a deep hole. But the official result leaves them needing a split or better before the series moves west. ### What comes next in the series? Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at Madison Square Garden, according to NBA.com’s playoff schedule. The series then shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday, May 23, with New York carrying a 1-0 lead into the next matchup.