New York beats Cleveland in overtime in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals
The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime. Jalen Brunson scored 38 points, helping his team take a 1-0 series lead.
Main Event
The New York Knicks earned a dramatic victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The game took place on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York, ending with a 115-104 overtime score.
The hero of the game was Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, who scored 38 points. However, the key factor was not just his individual performance but his ability to turn around a seemingly lost game. With 7 minutes and 52 seconds left in regulation, Cleveland led by a commanding 22 points, 93-71. After that, New York mounted one of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history, finishing the fourth quarter and overtime with a combined 44-11 run.
Details and Statistics
For three quarters, the Knicks struggled. The long layoff took its toll—the team had not played since May 10, when they swept the Philadelphia 76ers. Their three-point shooting was off: through three quarters, New York had made only 4 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc.
However, in the final stretch, Brunson took over. He attacked James Harden intentionally, sparking an 18-1 run, and tied the game at 101-101 with 19 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, the Knicks quickly went on a 9-0 run, sealing the game's fate.
Mikal Bridges added 18 points for the Knicks. OG Anunoby, who missed two games due to a hamstring strain, was ineffective for most of the game but scored 9 of his 13 points in overtime and made 7 of 8 free throws. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell led with 29 points, Evan Mobley recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. James Harden also scored 15 points but had 6 turnovers and made only 1 of 8 three-point attempts.
Context and Significance
Entering the series, the Knicks were favorites—Mike Brown's team had won seven straight games and had the best net rating among all playoff teams. However, losing Game 1 of the conference finals a year ago to Indiana (when New York blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter) made this game particularly meaningful.
"We played great for three quarters. But in the fourth, they just destroyed us," said Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson.
Now the Knicks are three wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. For Cleveland, the loss is especially painful, given that the team heroically survived two seven-game series against Toronto and Detroit, only to let a sure road win slip away.
What's Next
Game 2 of the series will take place on Thursday, May 21, at Madison Square Garden. The full schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals is as follows:
- Game 1 (May 19): Cleveland at New York — 104-115 (OT), series 1-0
- Game 2 (May 21): Cleveland at New York (ESPN)
- Game 3 (May 23): New York at Cleveland (ABC)
- Game 4 (May 25): New York at Cleveland (ESPN)
- Game 5* (May 27): Cleveland at New York (if necessary)
- Game 6* (May 29): New York at Cleveland (if necessary)
- Game 7* (May 31): Cleveland at New York (if necessary)
Editorial Prediction
The comeback in Game 1 could seriously break Cleveland psychologically: the team dominated for 40 minutes of game time and still lost. The Knicks, on the other hand, gained a huge emotional boost, and Brunson once again proved he can single-handedly turn games around. If Anunoby fully finds his rhythm after injury, the Cavaliers will have even fewer chances—he is the one who should contain Mitchell on the perimeter. Given the home-court advantage and New York's historical stability in this postseason, the series could well end in six games, as most experts predicted before it began.
— Editorial Team
