The New York Knicks hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. New York hadn’t played in eight days after their series sweep against the 76ers. Cleveland came off another seven-game series, beating the Pistons on the road, 125-94. The Knicks and Cavs met in the 2023 Playoffs, with the Knicks winning in five games. Making their second straight appearance in the conference finals, the crowd at Madison Square Garden was ready and hyped for game time.
James Harden drove into the lane for the easy floater to get the scoring started. Mikal Bridges responded with a floater to get the Knicks on the board. Donovan Mitchell scored a quick seven points to give the Cavs an early 10-4 lead. Mitchell has averaged 32.3 ppg in playoff openers this postseason. Josh Hart hit a spin move right around Harden for the easy layup in transition that brought the Garden crowd to their feet. Jalen Brunson put the moves on Dennis Schroder that brought “ooos” and “aahs” from the crowd and cashed in the jumper. On the next possession, Bridges threw a lob to Mitchell Robinson, who scored. New York went on an 8-0 run and took a 20-13 lead. The Knicks led 23-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Mitchell was able to go around Jose Alvarado for the layup in the second quarter. OG Anunoby hit a corner three with the shot clock winding down for his first bucket of the game. Sam Merrill and Harden hit back-to-back threes that forced a New York timeout. The Cavs went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to one. Mitchell got fouled by Bridges on a three-point attempt that went in and later completed the four-point play. Mitchell made another three with seconds winding down in the second quarter. Cleveland led 48-46 at halftime.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Evan Mobley traded threes early in the third quarter. The Cavs grew their lead to 13 after a Mobley layup. Cleveland outscored the Knicks 35-23 in the quarter. The Cavs led 83-69 at the end of the first quarter. Dean Wade hit a three over Jordan Clarkson for the and-one and completed the four-point play. Mitchell made a three-pointer to bring the Cavs’ lead to 21. Harden split his free-throw trip and extended the lead to 22.
The momentum would slowly shift from that point on. Brunson would begin his scoring barrage as he kept attacking Harden. Brunson drilled a three-pointer over Harden to force a Cavs timeout, and the crowd was on their feet. New York cut the lead to five and went on an 18-1 run as Brunson was the catalyst during the stretch. Mobley, out of the timeout, hit a big three for the Cavs. Landry Shamet got the “Kawhi” bounce from three to tie the game. Harden hit a jumper over Brunson to regain the lead for the Cavs. Brunson would respond with a bank shot floater to tie it at 101. Sam Merrill had a chance for the lead, but his three-point jumper went in and out. Mike Brown tried to call a timeout, but the refs did not see him. It was a tie game at 101 heading into overtime.
Brunson made a floater and then Anunoby drove right at Mobley to bank in the layup to make it a 107-101 lead for the Knicks. Shamet rattled in a three-pointer to make it a 9-0 run to begin overtime and forced a Cleveland timeout. Out of the timeout, Max Strus hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to six. Bridges stole the ball from behind Strus. Anunoby made four straight free throws down the stretch as New York went on to the 115-104 Game 1 victory.
The Knicks went on a 44-11 run in the last 12:49 of regulation and overtime, and a 30-8 run at the end of regulation. It was the Knicks’ largest postseason comeback in franchise history. It was also their fourth 20-plus point comeback in the past two postseasons. Brunson led the way with 38 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Bridges had 18 points while Hart, Anunoby and Towns each had 13 points. Towns added 13 rebounds for a double-double.
Mitchell led the way for the Cavs with 29 points. Harden had 15 points, and Mobley had a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
With New York leading the series 1-0, Game 2 is Thursday, with game time set for 8 p.m.
