NEW YORK — The New York Knicks have shown they can blow teams out, but on Tuesday night, they proved they can survive a fistfight.
In a grueling, back-and-forth playoff opener that defied recent trends, the Knicks spent nearly 48 minutes playing catch-up before finally pulling away in overtime to secure a thrilling victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 104-115.
Unlike previous contests where New York buried opponents under an early avalanche of points, this game required a masterclass in resilience. The Cavaliers punched first, seizing control in the opening minutes and refusing to let go. Leveraging a suffocating defense and transition buckets, Cleveland pushed their advantage into double figures during the second half, leaving Madison Square Garden uncharacteristically quiet.
But these Knicks don’t fold. Led by All-Star Brunson’s 38 points and Mikal Bridges’ 18 points, the Knicks overcame Donovan Mitchell’s 29 points.
New York found its second wind in the waning moments of regulation. Crashing the glass and tightening their perimeter defense, the Knicks chipped away at the deficit, ultimately forcing the extra five minutes of frame.
Once overtime hit, the momentum completely shifted. The Knicks finally looked like themselves, executing flawlessly to put the game away for good.