Brunson Drops 38 as Knicks Erase 22-Point ECF Deficit

Sport

By lines

May 20, 2026

Knicks Cavaliers ECF Game 1 ended with one of the great comebacks in playoff history. Jalen Brunson scored 38 points as the New York Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit. New York beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime to take a 1-0 Eastern Conference Finals lead.

How the Knicks Turned James Harden Into Their Weapon

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown named the strategy openly after the final buzzer. Brown said: “It’s no secret, we were attacking Harden.” Knicks guards relentlessly targeted James Harden on switch possessions throughout the fourth-quarter run.

The Cleveland Cavaliers led 93-71 with 7 minutes and 52 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Brunson then scored 17 of New York’s final regulation points. Cleveland scored only 11 over the same stretch. The Cavaliers’ collapse pushed the game into overtime.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson defended his late-game decisions after the loss. Atkinson chose not to call timeouts as the New York Knicks’ comeback accelerated. Atkinson told reporters the choice was part of his team’s game plan. Cleveland now must respond in Game 2 to even the series.

Donovan Mitchell had led the Cavaliers through the early going at Madison Square Garden. The New York Knicks entered with eight days of rest after sweeping their second-round opponent. That freshness became decisive in the final seven minutes of regulation.