New York Knicks Take Game 1 of ECF Behind the Brilliance of Jalen Brunson
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night was one for the books! The Knicks stormed back from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.
It was one of the biggest turnarounds in playoff history and gave New York a 1-0 series lead. With the Western Conference opener also going to OT, it became the first time both Conference Finals Game 1s needed extra time to crown a victor.
The Massive Knicks Comeback
Cleveland led 90-68 with 7:38 left. New York flipped the game with a full-court press, forcing seven late turnovers and ripping off a 33-11 run to close regulation. Jalen Brunson tied it at 101 with a driving layup, then the Knicks opened overtime with 9 straight points. They outscored Cleveland 47-14 over the final 12 minutes.
Brunson poured in 14 of his 38 points during the rally. Mitchell Robinson owned the glass, piling up second-chance looks. Mikal Bridges had a phenomenal game, adding 2 steals and 5 boards along with 18 points. OG Anunoby, who looked healthy upon his return, smothered Donovan Mitchell, holding him scoreless for the final 13 minutes.
Jalen Brunson’s Brilliance
Brunson’s masterclass performance solidified his reputation as a premier playoff performer. He willed the New York Knicks out of a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Cavaliers. Playing a grueling 46 minutes, the star point guard systematically dismantled the Cleveland defense to anchor the historic 115-104 overtime triumph.
He finished with 38 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals on 51.7% shooting. With his three-ball off (1-for-6), he attacked the paint relentlessly, targeting James Harden on every switch.
He scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the fourth quarter alone, fueling an 18-1 Knicks run. His game-tying layup with 19 seconds left forced overtime. Once the extra period started, Cleveland shifted its entire defense toward Brunson to force the ball out of his hands. He adapted flawlessly, drawing the defense and finding a wide-open Landry Shamet for a critical dagger three-pointer to safely extend New York’s lead to 110-101.
Overtime Lockdown
New York suffocated Cleveland in overtime, holding the Cavs to just 3 points. The Knicks’ energy overwhelmed a Cleveland team that emptied the tank building its 22-point lead, as well as, coming off a grueling seven game semifinal series against the Detroit Pistons.
New York’s 9-0 OT burst immediately broke the game open. The New York Knicks’ defensive performance in the extra five minutes of Game 1 was an absolute overtime lockdown. By completely choking out Cleveland’s offense, New York completed a staggering 44-11 closing run from the late fourth quarter through the end of overtime.
The extra frame was entirely one-sided as New York’s suffocating energy left the Cavs dazed. After Cleveland’s Sam Merrill missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the end of regulation, the Knicks chased the Cavs off the arc in OT, forcing rushed mid-range heaves and sloppy passes.
Cleveland’s Collapse
Cleveland unraveled, getting outscored 46-21 over the final 17 minutes. Mitchell scored 29 but disappeared late, going scoreless for the final 13 minutes under Anunoby’s pressure. Harden was repeatedly hunted by Brunson and offered little rim resistance.
Up 93-71 with 7:52 left, the Cavs abandoned the aggressive play that built their lead. They bled the shot clock, settled for contested step-backs, and panicked against New York’s press. Despite the meltdown, they still had a chance at the buzzer, but Merrill’s three-pointer rimmed out.
Looking Ahead To Game 2
Game 2 tips Thursday. May 21 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Cleveland must attack early with ball screens to force Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns into rotations. They also need to protect Harden from isolation switches, or New York will hunt him again.
Expect the Knicks to deploy their full-court press and perimeter traps earlier. Anunoby and Bridges will again be tasked with disrupting Mitchell and Harden before they find any rhythm.
