Knicks Target James Harden Clearly, Brown Confirms No Secret Plan

The New York Knicks opened the Eastern Conference finals with a 115-104 overtime win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, built on a late 44-11 surge. Mike Brown explained that a key part of the comeback involved repeatedly attacking James Harden in half-court situations during that stretch.

Brown said the shift came when Jalen Brunson began isolating Harden, mirroring Cleveland’s earlier focus on Brunson. "You've got to do what the game dictates, Brown said. They were doing the same thing with Jalen. So we said two can play that game. It was no secret: We were attacking Harden. Just like we have to figure out different ways to guard Harden and [Donovan] Mitchell, they have to find ways to guard Jalen. "

Across the fourth quarter and overtime, the New

York Knicks scored 44 points while allowing only 11. That closing 44-11 run meant they produced 44 of the game’s final 55 points, a feat no other NBA team has matched in the past 20 years.

The @nyknicks ended tonight's game on a 44-11 run. No other NBA team in the last 20 years has scored at least 44 of the game's final 55 points (reg or post). pic.twitter.com/tz06fXYxdtOptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 20, 2026

Brown linked the New York Knicks plan against Harden to earlier playoff meetings with Houston, when coaching staff tracked Harden’s dribbles. Brown recalled Harden reaching about 1,000 dribbles per game compared with roughly 300 for Kevin Durant, so the instruction was to pressure Harden full court.

That history shaped the approach against Cleveland as well, with Brown highlighting heavy workloads for Cavaliers guards. Cleveland's guards played around 50 percent more minutes than New York Knicks guards, and Brown believed sustained pressure might eventually wear them down and offer a small psychological edge.

During a timeout before the surge, Brunson addressed the team and tried to reset the group’s mindset. "Keep fighting, keep chipping away. We're not going to get it back in one possession," Brunson said. "Most importantly, sticking together. No matter how that game finished, habits translateto the next game. We're just doing; we're not giving up. We don't want to give up, ever, so having faith in each other. "