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The New York Knicks produced a late surge to overturn a 22-point deficit and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, taking a 1-0 series lead after a dramatic turnaround at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson led the response with 38 points, driving a rally that started with the Knicks trailing 93-71 with just under eight minutes left. New York then dominated the closing stages, outscoring Cleveland 44-11 from the 7:42 mark of the fourth quarter through overtime.
The decisive stretch began with an 18-1 burst over 4:22, which cut the margin to five and transformed the mood inside the arena. Brunson delivered the final 11 points of that run, including a 27-foot 3-pointer, as the crowd shifted
from frustration to belief with 3:30 remaining.
Brunson finished with 15 points in the fourth quarter alone and brought New York fully level when a mid-range jumper with 20 seconds left tied the score at 101. Cleveland still had the final possession in regulation, but Sam Merrill’s 3-point attempt rolled in and out.
Overtime belonged to New York. OG Anunoby, returning from a right hamstring strain, scored nine points in the extra period, with seven coming at the line. The Knicks outscored the Cavaliers 14-3 in the extra five minutes, helped by late steals from Mikal Bridges and Brunson in the closing 75 seconds.
NEW YORK WENT ON A 44-11 RUN TO COMPLETE A 22-POINT COMEBACK WIN IN GAME 1 💨 DOWN 22 WITH UNDER 8 TO PLAY IN Q4. 30-8 RUN TO FORCE OT. WON BY 11. 1-0 SERIES LEAD IN THE EAST FINALS pic.twitter.com/0InzFeaG4MNBA (@NBA) May 20, 2026
New York’s strong finish contrasted with a difficult start. The Knicks had not played since 10 May, after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semi-finals, and the long break showed early as shots missed and offensive rhythm stalled for three quarters.
The Knicks, usually dangerous from distance, struggled badly from the perimeter for most of the night. Through three quarters, they hit just 4 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc and scored only 23 points in each of the first three periods before exploding for 46 across the fourth quarter and overtime.
Cleveland also opened cold from long range, going 2 of 12 on 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Cavaliers found their touch in the second, however, hitting 6 of 10 from deep and closing the half on a 20-8 run to change a 10-point deficit into a 48-46 lead at the break.
| Team | Top Scorer | Points |
|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | Jalen Brunson | 38 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Donovan Mitchell | 29 |
Knicks Cavaliers Game 1 Eastern Conference finals performances
The Cavaliers extended control after half-time, building the advantage to 16 in the third quarter and then pushing it to 22 early in the fourth. At that stage, Cleveland appeared set to secure a comfortable road victory and seize home-court advantage in the series.
Donovan Mitchell finished with 29 points for Cleveland but had only three across the fourth quarter and overtime. James Harden added 17 points yet went 1 of 7 from the field during the same late stretch, while Evan Mobley contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.
New York spread the scoring support behind Brunson. Bridges added 18 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Anunoby each finished with 13. Anunoby was playing for the first time since Game 2 of the second-round series, having missed two games because of a strained right hamstring.
Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals is scheduled for Thursday, with the Cavaliers needing a response after letting a sizeable lead slip. The Knicks, buoyed by their late surge and home crowd, carry momentum and a 1-0 advantage into the next meeting at Madison Square Garden.
