Knicks overturn 22-point deficit to stun Cavaliers in Eastern Conference Finals opener
The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime on May 20, 2026, to take a 1-0 series lead despite a 22-point fourth-quarter shortfall.
The New York Knicks have taken a 1-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime on May 20, 2026. The victory marked the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history, as New York erased a 22-point deficit to secure the win at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson was the primary driver of the turnaround, scoring 38 points in total. He recorded 17 of those points in the final 12 minutes and 39 seconds of regulation, including a critical sequence where he scored on four consecutive possessions to send the game into overtime. Brunson’s performance extended the Knicks’ franchise record for points in a conference finals game, previously set by his own 43-point effort against Indiana last year.
The Cavaliers’ defensive strategy struggled to contain Brunson, with James Harden assigned to the guard for much of the contest. Harden recorded six turnovers and shot just 1-of-8 from three-point range, missing 11 of his 16 total shots. Cleveland entered the game with a strong on-court impact from Harden, having outscored opponents by 62 points in 524 minutes with him on the floor during the postseason. However, his defensive assignment against Brunson proved ineffective in the closing stages.
Other key contributors for New York included Mikal Bridges, who scored 18 points and hit two crucial three-pointers in the final minutes, and OG Anunoby, who added 13 points in his return from a strained right hamstring. Landry Shamet tied the game with a corner three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining in regulation, while Sam Merrill missed a potential game-winning shot that rimmed out at the buzzer to force overtime.
The win extends the Knicks’ winning streak to eight games and marks their 20th consecutive playoff game scoring 100 or more points, the second-longest such streak in the last 35 years. The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 2, with New York now three wins away from its first NBA Finals appearance since 1973.
