it was perfectly poetic. Everything came full circle.
The Knicks scripted it perfectly. Even the overtime part.
Last year’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals produced an epic Knicks choke, a moment that immediately went down in the worst parts of the franchise’s lore. They spoke on Monday about learning their lesson from that game and wanting to right that wrong.
And then, after a three-quarter malaise, they delivered their own comeback for the ages. This one will immediately cement itself in the best part of Knicks lore.
They overcame a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit in an epic 115-104 Game 1 win over the Cavaliers Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
They looked dead in the water, well on their way to a concerning blowout loss. They were bricking in embarrassing style – going just 4-for-23 from 3-point range across the first three quarters.
Then, the real Knicks — the one who had reeled off seven straight playoff wins — re-emerged. And the floodgates opened.
They rattled off a 30-8 run to end the fourth quarter and force overtime. Jalen Brunson had 15 of those points, going 7-for-9 from the field. Mikal Bridges drilled two huge 3-pointers. Landry Shamet – who closed the game and played all of overtime in place of the benched Josh Hart – drilled the game-tying 3-pointer with 45 seconds left.
After James Harden re-established the Cavaliers lead, Brunson tied it again with an off-balance floater off the glass.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson watched it all happen, curiously waiting way too long to call a timeout and leaving Harden on Brunson. Predictably, Brunson cooked him. The Knicks as a whole shot 13-for-22 from the field and 5-for-7 from deep in the fourth quarter.
By overtime, the Cavaliers had capitulated. Shamet’s 3-pointer gave the Knicks a nine-point lead with 1:49 left. MSG, which had gone quiet for much of the game, to the type of frenzy that makes this building special.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden shot a combined 2-for-13 from the field in the fourth quarter and overtime. They completely fell apart.
The Knicks, after leading by 11 early in the game, were outscored by 21 points in the second and third quarters. Their transformed offense – playing through Karl-Anthony Towns as a facilitator from the elbows – was being stifled by the Cavaliers’ big man tandem of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Those rest vs. rust debates seemed like they were providing a clear answer.
Then the Knicks outscored the Cavaliers by a combined 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. After going down by 22 points, the Knicks outscored the Cavaliers 44-11 the rest of the way.
These were the Knicks that went on a seven-game tour de force, which is now extended to eight games. The Knicks that had fans as bullish as they’ve been this century. The Knicks that are supposed to be favorites in the series.
The Knicks certainly know this feeling. That feeling completely set the tone for how the rest of the series went. It became the defining and lasting memory of their season last year.
One year later, they completely flipped the script. Perhaps it will set the tone for how this series plays out.
And, maybe, become a defining moment of this season’s continuing magic ride.
