Madison Square Garden has seen some things. But Tuesday night, even the ghosts of playoff heartbreaks past had to tip their caps.
The New York Knicks trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers by 22 points at their biggest deficit and looked, for most of three quarters, like a team that forgot it had a game to play. Then they remembered. New York outscored Cleveland in the fourth quarter, forced what the box score quietly confirms was a wild comeback, and closed out a 115-104 victory in OT to steal Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Take a breath, New York. That one was earned.
Jalen Brunson Was Simply Unfair
If you watched this game and somehow still need convincing that Jalen Brunson is a bona fide playoff star, there’s not much more anyone can do for you. The man finished with 38 points (15-29 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 7-10 FT), 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. He hit tough mid-range shots, attacked switches relentlessly, drew fouls and buried free throws when the Knicks needed them most.
For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell did everything he could to match him, pouring in 29 points on efficient shooting with active work in the passing lanes. He was spectacular. He just didn’t have enough help.
The Supporting Cast Showed Up When It Mattered
Brunson doesn’t win this game alone, though. Mikal Bridges was excellent, scoring 18 points, finishing a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. He was a menace in transition.
Karl-Anthony Towns put up a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double and kept New York’s interior presence alive. OG Anunoby chipped in double-figure scoring and his usual brand of physical, switchable defense that doesn’t always pop off the stat sheet but absolutely matters.
Off the bench, Landry Shamet was quietly excellent: 9 points on 3-of-3 from three. That’s the kind of zero-hesitation shooting that makes a comeback feel suddenly possible.
Cleveland’s Collapse: What Happened?
Let’s give the Cavs credit where it’s due. They built that 22-point lead. They controlled the first three quarters and looked like the more composed team for most of the night.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
Cleveland shot poorly down the stretch, and the turnovers piled up. James Harden had a rough night overall, Dennis Schroder was worse. The Cavs finished with over 20 turnovers, and New York turned those mistakes into a huge chunk of their offense, a backbreaker in a playoff game.
Evan Mobley was solid on the glass with a double-double but couldn’t find his rhythm offensively, struggling to finish inside. Jarrett Allen drew plenty of contact and got to the line repeatedly, but too many missed free throws loomed large in the tightest moments.
What This Means for the Series
Game 1 in the books, Knicks lead 1-0, and the narrative has already shifted. New York held serve at Madison Square Garden, doing it the hard way, which might actually be more psychologically damaging to Cleveland than if the Knicks had simply rolled from the jump.
The Cavs now have to figure out how to close games. How to handle New York’s physical style. How to get Harden going and limit turnovers that cost them any shot at a comeback of their own.
For the Knicks, the message is clear: they can’t spot teams 22 points and expect this kind of ending every time. Cleaning up the first half has to be the priority heading into Game 2, which tips off Thursday night at the Garden.
But for now? New York’s got a 1-0 lead and a building that hasn’t been this loud since, well, the last time they were in this situation. Cleveland has a problem. The Garden has the energy.
Game 2 Is Thursday Night at MSG
The Cavs visit New York again Thursday with the series firmly tilted. Most models and bookmakers have New York favored in Game 2, though you’d be forgiven for thinking the numbers still undersell how much momentum shifts after a comeback like this.
Cleveland needs Mitchell to have another big night, Harden to wake up, and the turnovers to stop. New York needs Brunson to keep being Brunson, and for the first half to not look like a scrimmage.
If those two things are true, Game 2 could be a classic.
