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New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, bottom, drives past Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden during the second half of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Seth Wenig\/AP Photo\/Seth Wenig<\/p>\n
New York Knicks’ Mikal Bridges, left, covers Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden during the overtime period of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Seth Wenig\/AP Photo\/Seth Wenig<\/p>\n
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, right, moves past Cleveland Cavaliers’ Dennis Schroder, left, during the second half of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Seth Wenig\/AP Photo\/Seth Wenig<\/p>\n
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson looks on during the overtime period of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Seth Wenig\/AP Photo\/Seth Wenig<\/p>\n
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Jalen Brunson against Donovan Mitchell was the matchup splashed across the screens to hype the Eastern Conference finals.<\/p>\n
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Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, it turned into Brunson versus James Harden in the fourth quarter of Game 1.<\/p>\n
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Brunson continuously attacked the matchup to spark one of the largest postseason comebacks on record, as the New York Knicks rallied from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 115-104 victory. A day later, the Cavaliers shrugged off concerns that one of the most accomplished offensive players in league history might be too poor of a defender to give them NBA Finals hopes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know everybody\u2019s putting it on James, but I\u2019d say a lot of, it\u2019s on the team, our team defense,\u201d coach Kenny Atkinson said Wednesday after the Cavaliers practiced at Madison Square Garden. \u201cAnd we were great for three quarters. Like, really, really great. So we can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cavs will try again Thursday, hoping to even the series before it shifts to their home court over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Atkinson took as much, if not more, heat than Harden for waiting too long to use a timeout to stop New York’s momentum after Brunson kept driving right at Harden as the catalyst for an 18-1 run.<\/p>\n \u201cKenny\u2019s a great coach and we know that they\u2019re going to come out ready to play,\u201d said the Knicks’ Mike Brown, who worked with Atkinson when both were assistants to Steve Kerr in Golden State. \u201cThey came to New York to get one game and it\u2019s still within reach.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cavs know they should have it already. They controlled the middle two quarters against a Knicks team that showed plenty of rust in its first game since May 10. Looking nothing like the team that won by 19.4 points per game in the previous two rounds, the Knicks finally went to an offensive scheme that forced Harden to switch onto Brunson, and the All-Star guard had four straight New York baskets during the run.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Cleveland reserve guard Dennis Schroder credited Brunson more than blaming Harden.<\/p>\n \u201cJalen Brunson is one of the most clutch players in the NBA. Social media for that is just in a bad place,\u201d Schroder said. \u201cI think that we lost the game. Basketball is a team game. It\u2019s everybody on the bench, coaches, the guys who were on the court. At the end of the day, he made some tough shots and good credit.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cavaliers surged late in the season after acquiring Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden is ninth in NBA history with nearly 30,000 points and also 12th in assists. The 2018 NBA MVP was playing on an MSG court Tuesday where he shares the record with Kobe Bryant for points by an opponent with 61.<\/p>\n But he’s had some sloppy performances in the postseason and Game 1 was another. Harden shot 5 for 16 overall and 1 for 8 from 3-point range, and had twice as many turnovers (6) as assists. He’s bounced back before and Atkinson believes he will again.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI said, \u2018Without you, we\u2019re knocked out in the first round.\u2019 That\u2019s my first (opinion). My personal opinion,” Atkinson said. “So, let\u2019s just stop that. We\u2019re in a great position. \u2018You\u2019ve played great.\u2019 You know, sometimes micro experiences get exaggerated. \u2018So, you know, keep being yourself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The Knicks, who have won eight straight games, understand how the Cavs must be feeling, after a loss that was every bit as gut-wrenching in Game 1 of the 2025 East finals.<\/p>\n New York led Indiana by 14 points with under three minutes remaining in regulation. The Pacers rallied to tie when Tyrese Haliburton’s long jumper bounced high off the rim and fell through as time expired, then won 138-135 in overtime.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously they\u2019re looking at it like that was our game that we gave away,\u201d Knicks forward Josh Hart said of the Cavaliers. \u201cAnd they\u2019re looking at film of, \u2018If we fix this here or fix this here, we would have won the game.\u2019 And that\u2019s what they\u2019re going to try to do tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n AP freelance writer Adry Torres in New York contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/a>
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