Knicks’ Dramatic Comeback in Game 1
It was almost poetic, really. The whole situation has come full circle.
The Knicks orchestrated their comeback with care, even the overtime part.
Reflecting on Game 1 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, that moment is often viewed as a significant collapse for the Knicks—one of the worst in franchise history. They spoke about it on Monday; lessons were learned, and they were eager to set things right.
After struggling for most of three quarters, they made a long-awaited comeback. This game is likely to be etched into Knicks history.
In their matchup against the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, they overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, winning 115-104.
At one point, it seemed like they were set to face another crushing defeat. Their shooting was woeful, hitting only 4 of 23 three-pointers before the fourth quarter. But then, the real Knicks showed up.
They ended the fourth quarter on an impressive 30-8 run, which led them to overtime. Jalen Brunson was pivotal, scoring 15 of those points on 7-of-9 shooting. Mikal Bridges contributed significantly with some timely three-pointers. And then there was Landry Shamet, who stepped up in place of Josh Hart, sinking the game-sealing three-pointer with just 45 seconds left.
When James Harden briefly restored the Cavaliers’ lead, Brunson answered back, tying it again with a tricky floater off the glass.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson observed the unfolding drama but hesitated on calling a timeout, leaving Harden matched up against Brunson. The outcome? Brunson thrived, while the Knicks shot 13 of 22 from the field and an impressive 5 of 7 from three in the fourth quarter.
By overtime, the Cavaliers appeared to have thrown in the towel. Shamet’s three-pointer with 1:49 remaining gave the Knicks a nine-point lead, bringing the MSG crowd to life after a mostly quiet game.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for a disappointing 2-of-13 shooting in the crucial stretches. They crumbled under pressure.
Though the Knicks started strong, leading by 11 early on, they found themselves down by 21 points during the second and third quarters. Their offense, which featured Karl-Anthony Towns facilitating from the elbow, struggled against the Cavaliers’ formidable big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. It raised questions about whether complacency or rust was a factor.
Ultimately, the Knicks outscored the Cavaliers by 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. They trailed by 22 at one point but finished with a staggering 44-11 scoring run.
This victory marked the Knicks’ eighth consecutive playoff win, solidifying their fanbase as one of the most loyal and optimistic in recent years. They stand as favorites to win the series now.
The Knicks are no strangers to these high-stakes moments. In fact, this game could shape the rest of the series. Just a year later, they’ve managed to rewrite their narrative, and that could define their journey for the current season.
