Knicks Overcome 22-Point Deficit to Beat Cavaliers in Overtime

The New York Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals. Jalen Brunson scored 38 points, including 17 in the final eight minutes of regulation and overtime, to lead the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026.

The Knicks trailed 93-71 with 7:52 remaining in regulation before closing regulation on a 30-8 run. 3 seconds left. Cleveland’s Sam Merrill missed a three-pointer at the end of regulation, sending the game to overtime. The Knicks scored the first nine points of the extra period and never trailed.

Brunson told ESPN he had no explanation for the outcome. “I don’t have an answer for you,” he said. “We got some stops. We kept fighting, kept believing, just kept chipping away. ” Mikal Bridges added 18 points. OG Anunoby, returning from a two-game injury absence, scored 13 points. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 29 points, and James Harden added 15.

The Knicks host Game 2 on Thursday.

The winner of the best-of-seven series will face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. The Spurs defeated the Thunder in double overtime in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals behind 41 points from Victor Wembanyama. It is the first time in NBA history that the opening games of both conference finals went to overtime.