Knicks Take 115-104 Comeback Win in OT

*** If there’s one thing that’s been true of the Cavaliers during their 2026 postseason run, it’s that they’ve been able to bounce back from every tough loss that experts said they’ll never be able to bounce back from. 

Tuesday’s devastating defeat in New York heading into Game 2 might be their toughest test yet. 

Leading by 22 points with 7:52 to play in the fourth quarter, the Knicks used a furious rally to tie the game in regulation, then blitzed a shell-shocked Cavs team in overtime – taking the 115-104 decision in heartbreaking fashion to begin the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. 

Cleveland led by a deuce at the break and slowly built their advantage throughout the third quarter to take a two-touchdown lead into the final period. Things got even better to start the fourth, and when James Harden connected on the first of two free throws, the Cavs upped their advantage to 22 points. 

But Jalen Brunson and the Knicks took over from there, going on a 28-6 run culminating with Landry Shamet’s three-pointer with 45 seconds to play that tied the game at 99-apiece. 

Harden tied the game on a short jumper on Cleveland’s next possession, but Brunson’s floater with 19.3 to play tied the game again. The Cavaliers had one more chance to win the game, but Sam Merrill’s three-point attempt with under three seconds to play rattled around the rim and out, sending the thriller to an extra-session. 

In overtime, a deflated Cavs team netted only three points – Max Strus’ bomb with 1:45 to play – as the Knicks rolled to the victory before a frenzied crowd at the Garden. When the smoke had cleared, the Knicks had outscored the Wine & Gold, 44-11, over the contest’s final 13 minutes. 

“I mean, we held (Brunson) in check most of the game,” said Coach Kenny Atkinson. “Basically, in the fourth quarter, he got loose. We definitely tried to mix up some stuff, throw some stuff at him. We’ll have to keep looking at it. There were a lot of tough floaters, he hit that tough contested three. I feel like (New York) hit a lot of tough shots.”

Donovan Mitchell led six Cavaliers in double-figures with 29 points but, like the rest of his teammates, managed just a single field goal in the fourth quarter and overtime. Overall, the seven-time All-Star went 12-for-23 from the floor, adding five boards, three assists and a career-high six steals. 

“It’s one loss, it’s not like that loss gives them two or three games – it’s one,” said Mitchell. “So, we have an opportunity to come back here in two days and steal one here and that’s really all it is. If you allow yourself to go down that path, you won’t be ready for Game 2. So that’s pretty much the vibe.”

James Harden and Evan Mobley finished with 15 points apiece in Game 1. 

Harden struggled from the floor – going 5-for-16, including 1-of-8 from three-point range, adding four boards and three assists, but also committing six turnovers in the loss. Mobley didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, going 6-for-16, but did lead both squads with 14 rebounds and three blocks – giving him 22 swats over his last eight playoff games. 

Mobley talked postgame about overcoming Tuesday’s loss. 

“We've done it before,” said the 5^th-year big man. “We've been down two (games). We lost the first two games of the last series, so we've been here before. But we’ve just got to bounce back and look at the film and see what we could change and fix that."

Jarrett Allen and Dean Wade finished with 10 points apiece to round out the starters in double-figures, with Wade going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and Allen adding seven boards and a blocked shot. 

Sam Merrill led all reserves with 12 points, going 3-of-8 from long-distance, but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter and overtime. 

Jalen Brunson led both teams, scoring 15 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter – going 7-for-9 from the floor in the final period, 15-for-29 overall, adding a game-high six assists. Mikal Bridges added 18 points and Karl-Anthony Towns doubled-up with 13 points and 13 boards in the win. 

Landry Shamet led New York’s second unit with nine points – going 3-for-3 from three-point range, including the game-tying shot with less than a minute to play in regulation and a dagger to put the Knicks up nine with under 1:49 to play in overtime. 

On the night, the Cavaliers shot an even 40 percent from the floor and drilled 16 three-pointers. But they also committed 21 turnovers that led to 28 New York points. The Knicks also outrebounded Cleveland, 47-38, and dominated the paint, 60-38. 

*** The Wine & Gold will look to regroup after a practice day on Wednesday, with Game 2 slated for Thursday night at the scene of the crime. The Cavs return home for Game 3 on Saturday night, with Game 4 set for the following Monday. The series rotates venues from there – with Game 5 back in New York next Wednesday night and Game 6 at Rocket Arena on Friday. If a Game 7 is necessary, it’ll go down at the World’s Most Famous Arena one week from Sunday.