Knicks look to take 2-0 series lead after historic comeback over Cavs in Game 1
NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals following their historic comeback victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 on Tuesday night.
Jalen Brunson sparked one of the NBA's greatest postseason comebacks, a rally from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and finished with 38 points as New York beat Cleveland 115-104 in overtime.
The Knicks, who have won eight straight games, understand how the Cavs must be feeling, after a loss that was every bit as gut-wrenching in Game 1 of the 2025 East finals.
New York led Indiana by 14 points with under three minutes remaining in regulation. The Pacers rallied to tie when Tyrese Haliburton's long jumper bounced high off the rim and fell through as time expired, then won 138-135 in overtime.
"Obviously they're looking at it like that was our game that we gave away," Knicks forward Josh Hart said of the Cavaliers. "And they're looking at film of, 'If we fix this here or fix this here, we would have won the game.' And that's what they're going to try to do tomorrow."
Before the Knicks wild comeback, Brunson said the message for the Knicks was just to finish strong so they would have momentum for Game 2, even if they lost the opener.
"Just keep fighting," he said. "Keep chipping away. We're not going to get it back in one possession."
Fight is exactly what they did, and with a win on Thursday night, the Knicks could head back to Cleveland with a 2-0 series lead, putting them just two wins away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
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