Camille Naredo

Miles McBride #2, Jalen Brunson #11, Josh Hart #3 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jesse D. Garrabrant, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP 

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Miles McBride #2, Jalen Brunson #11, Josh Hart #3 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE   Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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New York Knicks v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Three

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779261041969AFP__20260509__2274635738__v1__MidRes__NewYorkKnicksVPhiladelphia76ersGameThree.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Miles McBride #2, Jalen Brunson #11, Josh Hart #3 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jesse D. Garrabrant, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP"/>Miles McBride #2, Jalen Brunson #11, Josh Hart #3 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jesse D. Garrabrant, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP</div>NEW YORK (UPDATED) — The New York Knicks, fueled by 38 points from Jalen Brunson, erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-104, in overtime Monday in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.The Knicks looked done for when they trailed, 93-71, with 7:52 left in regulation.But Brunson spearheaded an 18-1 New York run and banked in a floater to tie it at 101-101 with 19.3 seconds left in regulation.When Cleveland&#x27;s Sam Merrill missed a three-pointer they went to the extra session — in which the Knicks scored the first nine points.Brunson admitted he did not know how the Knicks had pulled off the sensational comeback.&quot;I don&#x27;t have an answer for you,&quot; he told broadcaster ESPN. &quot;We got some stops. We kept fighting, kept believing, just kept chipping away.&quot;They were playing great basketball and we just found a way.&quot;Mikal Bridges added 18 points, and OG Anunoby, back from a two-game injury absence, was one of three Knicks players with 13.Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points to lead the Cavaliers and James Harden added 15.The Knicks will have a chance to double their lead in the best-of-seven series when they host Game 2 on Thursday.The winner of the series will face either the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the championship series.The Spurs, fueled by a 41-point performance by Victor Wembanyama, beat the Thunder in double-overtime in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.It is the first time in NBA history that the first games in both conference finals have been decided in overtime.Rust may have played a role in a sluggish Knicks start. New York had been off for nine days after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round.The Cavaliers, meanwhile, were battle tested if not rested, having polished off a second straight seven-game series with a triumph at top-seeded Detroit on Sunday.A three-pointer by Mitchell saw Cleveland emerge from a back-and-forth first half with a 48-46 lead, and the Cavaliers pulled away relentlessly in the second half as the Madison Square Garden crowd looked on in stunned, silent disbelief.But they were celebrating wildly by night&#x27;s end as the Knicks moved one step closer to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.They reached the conference finals last year but were beaten by the Indiana Pacers.<div> </div><div>&#x27;We should have won&#x27;</div>The Cavaliers are in the conference finals for the first time since 2018, when they were led by LeBron James.Harden, 36, is back in the penultimate round for the first time since his 2018 Most Valuable Player season with Houston, when the Rockets fell in seven games to the Golden State Warriors.It was a crushing welcome to the conference finals for seven-time All-Star Mitchell, who never made it past the second round in five post-season appearances with the Utah Jazz.&quot;We should have won the game,&quot; Mitchell said. &quot;We&#x27;re up 22 with god knows how much time? Eight minutes? Gotta win the game. We didn&#x27;t.&quot;But he added there&#x27;s still plenty of time to regroup.&quot;It&#x27;s one game,&quot; Mitchell said. &quot;We could have lost by 40, still would have been 1-0. We played pretty solid for three quarters or so. We&#x27;ll make adjustments and go from there.&quot;

The New York Knicks, fueled by 38 points from Jalen Brunson, erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-104, in overtime Monday in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

The New York Knicks, fueled by 38 points from Jalen Brunson, erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-104, in overtime Monday in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Knicks rally from 22 points down to stun Cavs in NBA East finals opener

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Knicks rally from 22 points down to stun Cavs in NBA East finals opener

Agence France-Presse

Published May 20, 2026 12:14 PM PHT

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Updated May 20, 2026 03:11 PM PHT

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