The New York Knicks recovered from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime in game one of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
New York trailed 93-71 with less than eight minutes left in regulation. The Knicks then ripped through Cleveland with a 30-8 run to level the score at 101-101 before taking control in overtime.
It marked the biggest play-off comeback in Knicks history and the largest fourth-quarter comeback in an NBA post-season game since the Los Angeles Clippers overturned a 24-point deficit against the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012.
drove the comeback. The Knicks guard scored 38 points, including 17 across the closing stages of regulation and overtime. added 18 points while posted 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Knicks coach said: “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that in a play-off game.
“To be down 18, 19, 20, whatever we were down, and to find a way to come back and win, I take my hat off to my group.”
Guard praised the squad’s response after Cleveland dominated most of the second half.
“The team’s relentless. You never know whose night it’s going to be, but we’re going to figure it out,” McBride said.
led Cleveland with 29 points but managed only three in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers struggled to control possession late in the game and lost momentum once New York increased the tempo and attacked the rim more aggressively.
Mitchell admitted frustration after the collapse.
“We should have won the game,” he said.
“We’re up 22 with God knows how much time, got to win the game.”
The Cavaliers had played 11 matches in 21 days before Tuesday’s opener, while New York entered the series after nine days without a game.
Game two of the best-of-seven series will take place in New York on Thursday. The winners will advance to the NBA Finals against either the or the. San Antonio currently lead that series 1-0.
