Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104 OT: Brunson leads Game 1

The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden, with Jalen Brunson leading all scorers with 38 points while adding six assists and three steals in a steady closing performance.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First quarter: New York set the early tone with a 23-16 edge, limiting Cleveland’s rhythm and forcing the Cavaliers to work deep into possessions. The Knicks were sharper on both ends and carried a seven-point lead into the second.

Second quarter: Cleveland responded with a 32-23 period, finding more pace offensively and moving in front by halftime. Donovan Mitchell helped drive the change as the Cavaliers looked more comfortable attacking in transition and generating cleaner perimeter looks.

Third quarter: The Cavaliers stayed on the front foot after the break, outscoring New York 35-23 in the third. Cleveland’s offense reached its best stretch of the night, and the visitors took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter at 83-70.

Fourth quarter: New York answered with its strongest regulation period, a 32-18 finish that erased the deficit and forced overtime. The Knicks tightened up defensively, won more second-chance opportunities, and got the late execution they needed from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Overtime: Once the extra session began, the Knicks took complete control. New York outscored Cleveland 14-3 in overtime, holding the Cavaliers to one field-goal stretch of just three total points while Brunson and the Knicks closed Game 1 with poise.

Key Performers

New York Knicks:
Jalen Brunson led the way with 38 points and six assists, finishing as the clear offensive focal point in the biggest possessions. Karl-Anthony Towns added a major interior presence with 13 rebounds, helping New York finish with a 47-38 edge on the glass. As a team, the Knicks shot 47.7% from the field and made enough plays late despite going 10-for-32 from three-point range.

Cleveland Cavaliers:
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and added six steals, giving Cleveland production on both ends for long stretches. Evan Mobley pulled down 14 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder led the team with five assists. The Cavaliers made 16 three-pointers, but their 40.0% overall shooting and quiet overtime period kept them from finishing the road win.

NerdSports Stat: Cleveland led by 13 entering the fourth quarter, then managed only 21 total points over the final 17 minutes of game time, including just 3 in overtime.

Game Analysis

This game turned on composure, rebounding, and late-game shot quality. Cleveland looked in control after a strong middle two quarters, especially with a 35-point third that put New York on the back foot. The Cavaliers also attempted 50 three-pointers, a sign of how much of their offense came from the perimeter.

But New York stayed within reach by shooting more efficiently and winning the rebounding battle. The Knicks finished at 47.7% from the field compared with Cleveland’s 40.0%, and that gap became more important as possessions tightened in the fourth quarter. New York also got to the foul line 32 times, which helped stabilize the offense even though the team converted just 65.6% there.

The decisive stretch came when the Knicks turned a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit into a tie game through better defensive possessions and stronger execution in the half court. Cleveland had success moving the ball earlier, finishing with 23 assists, but the Cavaliers could not maintain that flow late. In overtime, New York’s defense set the tone immediately, and the Knicks had the best player on the floor in Brunson to guide the final push.

Closing Context

With the win, the Knicks take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series. New York also improves on its 53-29 overall mark from the regular season and protects home court to open the matchup, while Cleveland starts the series 0-1 after a missed opportunity to close out a game it led entering the fourth.

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