Knicks beat Cavaliers in Game 1

Jalen Brunson gave New York 38 points on Tuesday night, and the Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime after trailing by 22 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The comeback at Madison Square Garden put New York ahead 1-0 in the series and left the NBA’s final four at Knicks-Cavaliers in the East and Spurs-Thunder in the West. NBA.com said the Knicks closed on a 44-11 run over the final 12:45, the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a conference finals game since 1997. ### How big was the hole New York climbed out of? New York trailed by 22 points with less than eight minutes left in regulation before Brunson and the Knicks flipped the game. NBA.com said teams had gone 3-748 in the playoffs over the last 30 years, based on available play-by-play data, when trailing by at least 20 points in the fourth quarter. (nba.com) The final score was 115-104 in overtime, and the Knicks outscored Cleveland 44-11 from late regulation through the extra period. CBS Sports and NBA.com both described the finish as a historic comeback. ### Who drove the comeback? Brunson scored a game-high 38 points and added six assists for New York. (nba.com) NBA.com said 17 of his points and four of his assists came during the closing surge, when the Knicks repeatedly attacked Cleveland switches late in the game. The Knicks got the opening result after a nine-day layoff, while Cleveland arrived from a seven-game second-round series against Detroit. (cbssports.com) NBA.com’s John Schuhmann wrote that Cleveland was the sharper team for the first 40 minutes before New York’s legs and Brunson’s shot-making changed the game. (nba.com) ### What did this do to the playoff bracket? The result left four teams still alive in the postseason: New York and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, and San Antonio and Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals. CBS Sports and ESPN’s playoff bracket pages both showed the conference finals field after Tuesday’s game. (nba.com) Cleveland reached this round after eliminating Detroit in Game 7 on May 17. The quick turnaround meant the Cavaliers opened the East finals two days after finishing a second straight seven-game series, while the Knicks entered Game 1 after a longer break. ### Why did the late-game swing stand out? (cbssports.com) NBA.com said Cleveland had won its previous 22 games in which it led by at least 10 points at any stage. That streak ended when New York forced overtime and then controlled the extra session. FOX Sports’ game recap listed Brunson’s 38 points in a win that turned a 104-93 Cleveland lead into a 115-104 New York final. (cbssports.com) NBA.com’s nightly recap called it the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a conference finals game since 1997. (nba.com) ### What comes next in the series? Game 2 is scheduled for May 21 at Madison Square Garden before the series shifts to Cleveland. ESPN’s playoff schedule said the 2026 NBA Finals are set to begin on June 3. The next immediate step is another Knicks-Cavaliers game in New York, with Cleveland trying to avoid a 2-0 deficit and New York seeking a second home win before the series moves. (foxsports.com) (espn.com)