GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Eastern Conference finals were marketed around the exciting matchup between Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the reality became Brunson targeting James Harden during the final quarter of Game 1.
Brunson repeatedly exploited that defensive assignment to fuel one of the most dramatic postseason rallies in recent memory, with the New York Knicks overcoming a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 115-104 win. Following the defeat, Cleveland dismissed criticism suggesting that one of basketball’s most prolific scorers might be too much of a defensive liability to reach the NBA Finals.
“I know everybody’s putting it on James, but I’d say a lot of, it’s on the team, our team defense,” coach Kenny Atkinson said Wednesday after the Cavaliers practiced at Madison Square Garden. “And we were great for three quarters. Like, really, really great. So we can do it.”
Cleveland aims to bounce back Thursday, seeking to tie the series before heading home for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Atkinson faced criticism equal to or greater than Harden for delaying a timeout during New York’s surge, as Brunson repeatedly drove at Harden during an 18-1 scoring burst.
“Kenny’s a great coach and we know that they’re going to come out ready to play,” said the Knicks’ Mike Brown, who worked with Atkinson when both were assistants to Steve Kerr in Golden State. “They came to New York to get one game and it’s still within reach.”
Cleveland recognizes they should already possess that victory. They dominated the second and third quarters against a Knicks squad showing obvious rust in their first contest since May 10. Far from resembling the team that averaged 19.4-point victories in the prior two playoff rounds, New York eventually implemented an offensive strategy that forced Harden to defend Brunson, leading to four consecutive Knicks baskets during their decisive run.
Cleveland backup guard Dennis Schroder praised Brunson rather than criticizing Harden.
“Jalen Brunson is one of the most clutch players in the NBA. Social media for that is just in a bad place,” Schroder said. “I think that we lost the game. Basketball is a team game. It’s 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.”
The Cavaliers improved dramatically after trading for Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers late in the season. Harden ranks ninth in NBA history with nearly 30,000 career points and 12th in assists. The 2018 NBA MVP was competing Tuesday on an MSG floor where he shares the opponent scoring record with Kobe Bryant at 61 points.
However, he’s struggled at times during the playoffs, and Game 1 continued that trend. Harden managed just 5 of 16 shooting overall and 1 of 8 from beyond the arc, while committing six turnovers against three assists. He’s recovered from poor performances previously, and Atkinson expects another rebound.
“I said, ‘Without you, we’re knocked out in the first round.’ That’s my first (opinion). My personal opinion,” Atkinson said. “So, let’s just stop that. We’re in a great position. ‘You’ve played great.’ You know, sometimes micro experiences get exaggerated. ‘So, you know, keep being yourself.’”
The Knicks, winners of eight consecutive games, empathize with Cleveland’s disappointment after experiencing similar heartbreak in Game 1 of the 2025 East finals.
New York held a 14-point advantage over Indiana with less than three minutes left in regulation. The Pacers forced overtime when Tyrese Haliburton’s long-range attempt bounced high off the rim before dropping through at the buzzer, then prevailed 138-135 in the extra period.
“Obviously they’re looking at it like that was our game that we gave away,” Knicks forward Josh Hart said of the Cavaliers. “And they’re looking at film of, ‘If we fix this here or fix this here, we would have won the game.’ And that’s what they’re going to try to do tomorrow.”
