NEW YORK — The New York Knicks looked finished.
Down 22 points in the fourth quarter, with the Cleveland Cavaliers in control and Madison Square Garden searching for a reason to believe, the Knicks delivered one of the most dramatic playoff comebacks in franchise history.
New York defeated Cleveland 115-104 in overtime Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, taking a 1-0 series lead and sending the Garden into full playoff chaos. The Knicks trailed 93-71 with 7:52 left in regulation, but closed the fourth quarter on a stunning run before dominating overtime.
Jalen Brunson was once again the heartbeat of New York.
Brunson finished with 38 points, including 17 points over the final eight minutes of regulation and overtime. Every time the Knicks needed a basket, Brunson answered. His late-game control, shot-making and leadership turned what looked like a blowout loss into a statement win.
The Knicks ended regulation on a 30-8 run, tying the game before taking full control in overtime. Once the extra period began, New York scored the first nine points and never gave Cleveland a chance to recover.
For the Cavaliers, this was a painful collapse.
Cleveland had the game in its hands. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 29 points, but New York’s defense limited him late. Cleveland struggled to score, turned the ball over and lost its rhythm as the Knicks kept attacking.
Mikal Bridges added 18 points for New York, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart also scored 13 points each, giving the Knicks the balance they needed around Brunson.
The win gave the Knicks their eighth straight playoff victory and was reported as the largest playoff comeback in team history.
More than anything, this game felt like a warning to the rest of the league: these Knicks do not go away.
They defend. They fight. They believe. And when Brunson gets rolling, the entire energy of the building changes.
Cleveland will have to regroup quickly. Game 2 is set for Thursday night in New York, where the Cavaliers will try to even the series before it shifts back to Cleveland. But after Tuesday night, the Knicks have more than momentum.
They have belief.
And in the playoffs, belief can be dangerous.
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