Knicks complete historic comeback to take Eastern Conference Finals lead
New York advances three wins away from the NBA Finals after 115-104 overtime victory over Cavaliers
The New York Knicks have taken a 1-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals after completing a historic comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers. New York defeated Cleveland 115-104 in overtime at Madison Square Garden, overturning a 22-point deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation. The victory stands as the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in playoff history in the play-by-play era.
Cleveland’s collapse was driven by offensive stagnation and defensive missteps. Big man Evan Mobley described the team’s late-game approach as "playing the clock," noting a shift from fluid ball movement to zero- or one-pass possessions. Defensively, the Cavaliers allowed soft switches that isolated James Harden against Jalen Brunson, a matchup the Knicks exploited through what analysts termed "matchup-hunting" and "hero ball."
The Knicks’ resurgence was bolstered by Landry Shamet, who replaced Josh Hart in the fourth quarter. Shamet provided defensive pressure on Donovan Mitchell and improved the team’s spacing, leading to post-game arguments that he should start Game 2. Hart, who has started since late November, posted a minus-23 rating in 31 minutes and struggled from three-point range, shooting just 12 for 45 in the playoffs.
Conversely, Cleveland’s offensive structure disintegrated under pressure. Coach Kenny Atkinson had identified putting pressure on Karl-Anthony Towns as a key strategy, but the plan failed to materialise effectively. Towns recorded seven turnovers, committed silly fouls, and missed layups, despite shooting 1 for 5 from three-point range. The loss has left the Cavaliers facing a must-win scenario in Game 2, scheduled for Thursday.
Donovan Mitchell offered a blunt assessment of the defeat, telling teammates, "We f---in' blew it. All right, let's respond for Game 2." While the locker room remained quiet, Mitchell likened the situation to the team’s Game 6 loss in Toronto during the first round, suggesting the squad must avoid letting the loss kill their momentum. The Knicks are now three wins away from reaching the NBA Finals.
