Knicks win Game 1 in OT over Cavaliers

The New York Knicks opened the Eastern Conference finals with a 115-104 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, overcoming a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit. Jalen Brunson scored 38 points as New York turned a 93-71 hole with 7:52 left into a 1-0 series lead. The Knicks closed regulation and overtime on a 44-11 run, according to NBA.com. Cleveland, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 29 points, lost control of a game it had largely dictated for three quarters. ### How big was the comeback? NBA.com said New York trailed by 22 points with under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and still forced overtime before winning by 11. The league’s live recap said the Cavaliers shot 22% the rest of the way after building that lead. (nba.com) The Knicks’ closing surge started with Brunson attacking repeatedly and ended with a 9-0 burst to open overtime. Brunson tied the game at 101-101 with 19 seconds left in regulation, and Landry Shamet later hit a 3-pointer in overtime that pushed New York’s lead to 110-101. ### What did Brunson and the Knicks say changed late? (nba.com) Brunson told reporters the message during the comeback was simple: “Just keep fighting.” He added, “Keep chipping away. We’re not going to get it back in one possession.” Karl-Anthony Towns said the defense was the key to the turnaround. “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 after the game. (nba.com) ### Where did Cleveland lose the game? (nba.com) Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Cleveland’s fourth quarter undid three strong periods. “We played great basketball tonight for three quarters,” Atkinson said. “Unfortunately, the fourth quarter - they dominated us in the fourth quarter.” (cbssports.com) Mitchell scored 29 points and Evan Mobley added 15 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, but Cleveland did not get another Mitchell basket after the 8:19 mark of the fourth quarter, NBA.com said. The Cavaliers had been on track for a third straight road playoff win before the collapse. (cbssports.com) ### How does this fit the Knicks’ playoff run? The Knicks entered the conference finals on a seven-game playoff winning streak after sweeping Philadelphia in the second round, according to CBS Sports. Tuesday’s victory pushed that streak to eight games. (nba.com) New York had not played since May 10, when it completed that sweep, and the Associated Press game recap said the Knicks looked rusty for much of the night before recovering late. The win moved them within three victories of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. ### What comes next in the series? (sports.yahoo.com) Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden, with ESPN carrying the broadcast, according to NBA.com. The first two games of the series are in New York. ESPN’s playoff schedule says the 2026 NBA Finals begin June 3 on ABC. The Eastern Conference champion will face the Western Conference winner after this best-of-seven series. (nba.com) (espn.com)