New York Knicks rally 22-point

Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks back from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to a 115-104 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, giving New York a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks trailed 93-71 with 7:52 left in regulation before closing the game on a 44-11 run, according to NBA.com. Brunson finished with 38 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals, while Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points for Cleveland. The result moved New York within three wins of its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. ### How big was the hole New York climbed out of? The Cavaliers led by 22 points midway through the fourth quarter and still appeared in control with under eight minutes to play. NBA.com said New York was down 93-71 with 7:52 remaining before turning the game with an 18-1 burst led by Brunson. The Knicks then carried that push through the end of regulation and into overtime. (nba.com) NBA.com’s live recap said New York outscored Cleveland 44-11 over the final 7:40 of the fourth quarter and overtime, while the Cavaliers shot 22% over the rest of the game after building the 22-point lead. ### What did Brunson do in the closing stretch? Brunson scored 17 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, according to NBA.com. He tied the game at 101-101 on a basket with 19 seconds left in regulation after repeatedly attacking Cleveland’s defense during the comeback. “Find a way,” Brunson said after the game, according to NBA.com. “We got some stops, kept fighting, kept believing. (nba.com) We just kept chipping away.” ### How did overtime swing so hard toward the Knicks? New York opened overtime with a 9-0 run after forcing the extra period, and the crowd at Madison Square Garden responded as the Knicks pulled clear. (nba.com) Landry Shamet hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 110-101 with 1:49 left in overtime, NBA.com said. (nba.com) Mikal Bridges added 18 points for New York, and OG Anunoby scored 13 in his return after missing two games with a strained right hamstring, according to the AP recap carried by NBA.com and CBS Sports. Cleveland got 15 points and 14 rebounds from Evan Mobley, but managed only three points in overtime. ### What did Cleveland say after the collapse? (nba.com) Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Cleveland had controlled most of the night before the finish unraveled. “We played great basketball tonight for three quarters. Unfortunately, the fourth quarter - they dominated us in the fourth quarter,” Atkinson said, according to the AP recap on NBA.com. (nba.com) Mitchell led Cleveland with 29 points, but NBA.com said his final basket came with 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, just before New York’s rally fully took hold. The Cavaliers had been seeking a third straight road playoff win before the turnaround. ### What comes next in the series? Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. (nba.com) ET on ESPN, with the Knicks still at home and holding a 1-0 series lead. NBA.com’s series page lists Game 3 for Saturday, May 23, in Cleveland if the schedule holds.