For the majority of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals, it seemed like a minor league version compared to the much-anticipated Spurs-Thunder clash. The Cavaliers held a commanding 22-point lead, while the Knicks struggled to score, leaving Madison Square Garden eerily silent.
Enter Jalen Brunson.
In the final stretch of the game, including a five-minute overtime, Brunson dominated by scoring 17 out of his total 38 points, spearheading a staggering 44-11 run. This remarkable effort transformed a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit into a thrilling victory over the Cavs. The Knicks triumphed with a final score of 115-104, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. This win felt momentous, as if it counted for more than just one game.
The Knicks are no strangers to dramatic Game 1 comebacks in conference finals. Last year, they experienced heartbreak when Indiana rallied from 14 points down to stun them in overtime. This time, it was the Knicks who delivered the shock, achieving the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback since the play-by-play era began in 1997.
Historically, teams leading by 22 or more points in the fourth quarter boasted a near-perfect record of 594-1. The sole exception was the 2012 Grizzlies, who squandered their lead against the Clippers. Now, with the Cavs joining that infamous list, it’s 594-2.
How did this dramatic turnaround occur? Simply put, Brunson relentlessly targeted James Harden, turning the defensive stalwart into a non-factor. Cavs fans and Harden supporters might want to look away from this stark reality.
Just to be extra cautious (nobody wants salmonella), Brunson left Harden on the grill for one last char job in overtime.
If you’re keeping score at home, Brunson made eight of his final 10 shots while Harden and Donovan Mitchell combined to miss nine of their final 10. Some other stuff happened along the way. Mikal Bridges hit two huge 3s in the closing minutes. Landry Shamet tied it with a corner 3 that hit every part of the rim before falling with 45 seconds left, while Sam Merrill’s potential game-winner was halfway down before rimming out to conclude regulation.
You know what they say about getting a few bounces to go your way and all. The Knicks got the bounces at the end. But it never should have gotten to that point. Kenny Atkinson will never admit this, but he probably should’ve gotten Harden out of the game when the Cavs were up 22, or at least when it became clear that Brunson was going to be hunting him on every possession.
“He’s been one of our best defenders in these playoffs,” Atkinson said after the game when asked if he considered benching Harden. “I trust him. Smart. Great hands. Didn’t think about that.”
At that point, the Cavs didn’t need Harden’s offense. His defense, however, was one of the only things that could’ve tripped them up with that kind of lead. It did more than trip them. It sent them crashing into an all-time finish-line face plant.
Harden has had an interesting postseason. He hasn’t shot well and he’s turned it over like crazy. At the same time, his on/off splits look fantastic. The Cavs entered Game 1 having outscored their postseason opponents by 62 points over 524 minutes with Harden on the floor, while being outscored by 40 points in his 158 bench minutes.
Those numbers were not an accident. His inefficient shooting and turnover issues notwithstanding, Harden’s ability to make plays for his teammates (he’s taken that burden off Mitchell’s shoulders) has totally unlocked Cleveland’s offense. Mitchell has gotten to attack defenses in rotation. By pulling two defenders out, Harden has gotten Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen going with pocket passes into 4-on-3 advantages.
Personally, I would argue the Harden trade has been a major success for the Cavs in simply getting this far and with Harden, who leads the team in postseason minutes, playing such a big role. But it isn’t difficult to see the other side of that coin.
Prior to the start of this series, former NBA guard Jeff Teague said on his Club 520 podcast that the Cavs “don’t got nobody who can guard Jalen Brunson.” He’s probably not wrong, but if there is someone who offers at least a reasonable shot at moderately disrupting Brunson, that person sure as hell isn’t Harden, whose downside was on full, almost embarrassing display in Game 1.
On top of serving as a defensive red carpet, Harden missed 11 of his 16 shots and finished 1 of 8 from 3 with six turnovers. Meanwhile, the Brunson legend continues to grow. If it isn’t already statue time for this guy, it’s not far off. This is only his fourth season with the Knicks and he already has a legit case as the best player in franchise history. His heroics aren’t even surprising anymore. They’re damn near expected.
Brunson owns the Knicks’ franchise record for points in a conference finals game with 43 in Game 1 against Indiana last year. Now he has the two highest-scoring conference finals games in Knicks history. He already has more playoff games with at least 40 points and five assists than Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. He has five 30-point conference finals games in four years with the Knicks, also a franchise record.
Brunson has the Knicks’ offense humming, as this marks the 20th straight playoff game they have eclipsed the 100-point mark. That is the second-longest such streak over the last 35 years, trailing only the supercharged Curry-Durant Warriors, who did it 25 straight times.
There’s a lot to like about this Knicks team. The defense is very good and can be downright nasty when it’s clicking. They have elite size on the wings. They shoot the hell out of the ball (at least usually; they missed 16 of their first 19 3s on Tuesday and finished 10 of 32). They’re deep. Versatile. Great home-court energy. They have a big-time big in Karl-Anthony Towns. They rebound. They run with Josh Hart.
But mostly, they have Jalen freaking Brunson. This guy has saved the Knicks in so many ways, and he did it again in Game 1 as New York moves within three wins of its first Finals appearance of the century as they chase their first championship since 1973.
