Then Jalen Brunson happened.
Behind another spectacular playoff performance from their All-Star guard, the Knicks stormed back to defeat Cleveland 115-104 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The comeback instantly became one of the most memorable playoff wins in franchise history and gave New York a 1-0 series lead.
The victory marked the largest playoff comeback win ever for the Knicks and the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA postseason history during the play-by-play era.
Brunson finished with 38 points and six assists while shooting 15-of-29 from the field. He completely took over during the final minutes of regulation, leading a stunning 44-11 run that flipped the entire game.
“We got some stops. We kept fighting and believing. We just kept chipping away,” Brunson said after the game. “They were playing great basketball. We just found a way.”
For much of the night, Cleveland appeared fully in control.
The Cavaliers recovered from an early deficit and gradually imposed their physicality on New York throughout the second and third quarters. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 29 points and repeatedly punished the Knicks defense, helping Cleveland build what looked like a comfortable lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers eventually stretched the advantage to 22 points after Mitchell knocked down a wide-open three-pointer early in the fourth, leaving Madison Square Garden noticeably quiet.
That silence did not last long.
Brunson sparked the comeback almost single-handedly, scoring 11 straight points during a critical 18-1 Knicks run that suddenly cut the deficit to five. Mikal Bridges then buried a clutch corner three to make it a one-possession game before Landry Shamet connected on a huge shot that tied the game late in regulation.
Cleveland had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Sam Merrill missed a potential game-winner, sending the contest into overtime.
At that point, all momentum belonged to New York.
The Knicks opened overtime with the first nine points and completely overwhelmed a Cavaliers team that suddenly looked rattled after controlling most of the night.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 13 points and 13 rebounds for New York, while Bridges finished with 18 points in the victory.
For Cleveland, Evan Mobley recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds, while James Harden struggled from deep, shooting just 1-of-8 from three-point range.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson praised his team’s effort despite the collapse.
“We played great basketball tonight for three quarters,” Atkinson said. “Unfortunately, they dominated us in the fourth quarter.”
The dramatic finish added another historic chapter to this year’s NBA playoffs. It also marked the first time in league history that both conference finals opened with overtime games, following the double-overtime thriller between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals opener.
Now, with momentum fully on their side, the Knicks are suddenly just three wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
