Epic Knicks comeback, Brunson: “We just kept fighting”
The Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 after a thrilling overtime finish. Jalen Brunson dropped 38 points and brought Madison Square Garden to life
If you thought you had already seen everything the NBA Playoffs had to offer, the New York Knicks just proved otherwise. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers instantly became part of playoff history: down by 22 in the fourth quarter, with Madison Square Garden already bracing for disappointment, and then… an unforgettable comeback, overtime, and a 115-104 win.
I’m definitely grateful because [the fans] could’ve left if they wanted to
Jalen Brunson
A huge part of the credit belongs to Jalen Brunson, who finished with 38 points and, more importantly, brought a level of determination that spread through the entire Garden. With 7:52 left in regulation, the scoreboard read 93-71 Cleveland. The game looked all but over.
Then Brunson started attacking James Harden possession after possession, sparking an 18-1 run that completely changed the game. With 19 seconds remaining, his game-tying basket at 101 sent the contest into overtime.
We just kept fighting. One possession at a time. You can’t make up everything immediately
Jalen Brunson
Those were Brunson’s words after the game. Earlier, before the comeback began, he had told his teammates to at least finish the game with dignity and build momentum heading into Game 2. What happened afterward felt straight out of a movie.
Overtime was all Knicks: the Garden erupts
The Knicks opened overtime with a 9-0 run, taking advantage of a Cavaliers team that suddenly looked mentally drained. The combined scoring margin from the fourth quarter through overtime tells the entire story: 44-11 for Brunson and company. Forty-four to eleven.
For three quarters we played great basketball. In the fourth quarter, they completely dominated us
Kenny Atkinson
To find a bigger fourth-quarter comeback in the NBA Playoffs, you have to go back to 2012, when the Los Angeles Clippers erased a 24-point deficit against the Memphis Grizzlies. We’re talking about something that almost never happens in modern playoff basketball.
Our defense was special again tonight. It kept us alive in the fourth quarter and overtime
Karl-Anthony Towns
Now the Knicks are just three wins away from reaching the NBA Finals, a stage they haven’t reached since 1999. Game 2 tips off Thursday, once again at Madison Square Garden.