Knicks Erase 22-Point Fourth-Quarter Deficit, Stun Cavaliers in Overtime for Game 1 Win

Jalen Brunson sparks the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in the playoffs this century. (2:29)

NEW YORK -- Jalen Brunson sparked one of the Knicks' greatest postseason comebacks, a rally from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and finished with 38 points as New York beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

After a record-setting run through the first two rounds, the Knicks were going nowhere for 40 minutes against the Cavs, trailing 93-71 with 7:52 to play. But Brunson relentlessly attacked James Harden to spark an 18-1 run that made it a ballgame, and he tied it at 101-all on a basket with 19 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Knicks then opened overtime with a 9-0 run as a delirious crowd in Madison Square Garden danced and screamed in the aisles. The Knicks moved within three wins of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

The Knicks became just the second team to comeback from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter over the last 30 postseason. Before Tuesday's games teams were 594-1.

"I don't have an answer for you," Brunson told ESPN when asked how the Knicks did it. "We got some stops, we kept fighting, kept believing. Just kept chipping away. They were playing great basketball, and we just found a way."

Mikal Bridges added 18 points and three Knicks scored 13, including OG Anunoby , who came on late after struggling most of the way in his return after missing two games with a strained right hamstring.

Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points for the Cavaliers, who seemed well on their way to a third straight road win before their late collapse.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

_Originally reported by [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48821809/knicks-rally-22-4th-steal-game-1-back-cavs)._