Knicks rally in overtime to win Game 1 of Eastern Conference finals vs Cavaliers

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks opened the Eastern Conference finals with a comeback that turned a near-certain loss into a 115-104 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. New York trailed 93-71 with 7:52 left in regulation before closing the fourth quarter on a 30-8 run, then opening overtime with nine straight points. Brunson finished with 38 points and tied the game at 101-101 with 19 seconds remaining, according to the Associated Press. The result gave the Knicks a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. ### How big was the hole New York climbed out of? The Knicks were down 22 points in the fourth quarter, a deficit AP described as one of the NBA’s greatest postseason comebacks. New York’s rally was its biggest playoff comeback in franchise history, and Yahoo Sports said it was the second-largest fourth-quarter playoff comeback in the play-by-play era. (cbssports.com) Cleveland had controlled most of the night before the collapse. The Cavaliers led 93-71 late in the fourth, but New York outscored them 44-11 from that point through the end of overtime, AP reported. ### What did Brunson do to change the game? Brunson scored 17 of his 38 points over the final eight minutes of regulation and overtime, according to game recaps cited in coverage after the game. (cbssports.com) AP reported that he repeatedly attacked James Harden during an 18-1 run that cut deeply into Cleveland’s lead, then hit the basket that tied the score with 19 seconds left. Brunson said the Knicks’ message during the comeback was simple. “Just keep fighting,” he said, according to AP. “Keep chipping away. We’re not going to get it back in one possession.” ### Who else mattered for the Knicks? Mikal Bridges added 18 points for New York, and three Knicks scored 13 points, including OG Anunoby, who returned after missing two games with a strained right hamstring, AP said. (gmanetwork.com) Karl-Anthony Towns pointed to the defensive end after the game. “It was our defense that has always been special in these playoffs,” Towns said, according to AP. (cbssports.com) The Knicks had looked out of rhythm for much of the game after several days off. AP said New York was 4-for-23 from 3-point range through three quarters before its late surge changed the game. ### How did Cleveland let it get away? Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points for Cleveland, but the Cavaliers could not close out the final minutes. (cbssports.com) Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said New York took over in the fourth. “We played great basketball tonight for three quarters,” Atkinson said, according to AP. “Unfortunately, the fourth quarter — they dominated us in the fourth quarter.” The overtime period never swung back. AP reported that New York opened the extra session with a 9-0 run as Madison Square Garden erupted, and Cleveland did not recover. ### What does this change in the series? The win put New York three victories from its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, AP reported. (cbssports.com) It also extended the Knicks’ winning streak to eight games, according to Yahoo Sports’ recap. Thursday, May 21, is the date for Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks holding home court in the series and a 1-0 lead. (cbssports.com) The NBA schedule lists the rest of the series continuing Saturday, May 23, in Cleveland if needed after Thursday’s second game in New York. (wkyc.com)