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<\/p>\nKnicks complete the largest 4th-quarter comeback in Conference Finals since 1997 to steal Game 1 on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Entering Tuesday, teams were 1-594 since 1997 when trailing by 22+ points in the 4th quarter of a Playoff game.<\/p>\n
Make that 2-594, thanks to the New York Knicks.<\/p>\n
Keep reading for a second straight night of madness, with both Conference Finals Game 1s going to OT \u2014 the first time that\u2019s ever happened.<\/p>\n
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5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n
Unreal Rally: Brunson, Knicks stage all-time 4Q rally at MSG to stun Cavs in OT, take 1-0 lead<\/p>\n
Brunson\u2019s Burner: What Captain Clutch\u2019s latest late-game feat meant to the Knicks<\/p>\n
Beyond The \u201cWow\u201d: Before Thunder-Spurs Game 2, see how Wemby\u2019s defense and knack for big moments ruled Game 1<\/p>\n
Patience Pays: Inside Dylan Harper\u2019s rookie rise and Playoff leap<\/p>\n
OKC Answer: Thunder look to rebound after first loss this postseason<\/p>\n
BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n
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After an unforgettable Game 1, Game 2 of the West Finals tips off tonight as Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs seek a 2-0 lead vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder (8:30 ET, NBC\/Peacock<\/a> | Tap to Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n Kidd Out In Dallas: The Mavericks announced yesterday that they have parted ways<\/a> with coach Jason Kidd, after a 5-year coaching run that saw a Finals run in 2024.<\/p>\n Latest Ratings: The NBA Playoffs are delivering their highest viewership<\/a> through the Conference Semifinals in 29 years, with an average of 4.5 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, NBC\/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video.<\/p>\n The Alley & Oop Show: A new duo is taking over the NBA for kids and families \u2026 Alley & Oop!<\/a> Follow them from city to city to learn more about the league and its superstars. The first episode drops today on NBA YouTube, NBA.com and the NBA App.<\/p>\n 1. BRUNSON, KNICKS ERUPT FOR HISTORIC GAME 1 RALLY<\/p>\n One night after the West Finals\u2019 double-OT thriller in OKC, the East Finals opened with magic at MSG.<\/p>\n Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104 (OT): Down 22 with 7:52 left in the 4th, Jalen Brunson (38 pts, 6 ast, 3 stl<\/a>) led New York on a comeback for the ages, closing on a 44-11 run<\/a> through overtime to pull off an improbable Game 1 win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Cavs In Total Control: An 8-0 run had the Cavs up 93-71 midway through the 4th, with Donovan Mitchell (29 pts, 5 reb) in complete control \u2013 and the Garden silent It was the largest Conference Finals comeback since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1997.<\/p>\n It was the largest Playoff rally in Knicks\u2019 franchise history.<\/p>\n It was a stunning swing in 30 minutes of real time \u2013 one that defied nearly three decades of Playoff history.<\/p>\n Against All Odds: In the play-by-play era, 595 teams had faced a 20+ point 4th-quarter deficit in a Playoff game. Only one had overcome it: the Clippers in Game 1 of the 2012 First Round vs. Memphis Full Circle: In Game 1 of the 2025 East Finals at MSG, the Knicks watched the Pacers erase a 14-point deficit with 2:50 left, capped by Tyrese Haliburton\u2019s iconic bouncing buzzer-beater to force OT, where Indy stole the series opener before ousting New York in six.<\/p>\n In the same game one year later, on the same floor, it was the Knicks who pulled off the near-impossible \u2013 a rally that embodied their collective resolve.<\/p>\n Complete Clamps: Amid the 44-11 closing run (from 7:52 in the 4th through OT), New York held Cleveland to 4-of-18 shooting (22.2%) and just 0.85 points per minute 2. \u2018JALEN BRUNSON IS SPECIAL\u2019 \u2013 INSIDE CAPTAIN CLUTCH\u2019S LATEST COMEBACK<\/p>\n Jalen Brunson was seeing the regular-season and Playoff leader in 2nd-half scoring take over on the MSG hardwood.<\/p>\n A 10-point 3rd quarter from Donovan Mitchell was fueling the Cavs to a lead as large as 15, and then over 20 after a 4th-quarter triple.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way we were playing in that middle 2nd-3rd quarter wasn\u2019t us,\u201d Brunson said.<\/p>\n So Captain Clutch did something about it, as he has so many times before. The Playoffs\u2019 4th-quarter points leader since 2023 got hotter than the 90-degree temps outside the Garden, igniting New York\u2019s statement Game 1 win.<\/p>\n Great, Late: It was Brunson\u2019s fourth 15+ point postseason 4th quarter since 2023 (his first Playoffs with the Knicks), which is tied with Mitchell and Anthony Edwards for the most in that span \u201cWe don\u2019t get it done if Jalen Brunson doesn\u2019t play like one of the MVP guys in the league,\u201d coach Mike Brown said. \u201cHe was phenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n When Brunson is in win-mode, it doesn\u2019t matter who is in front of him defensively down the stretch.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ball was going in so I, honestly, just was trying to get to my spots\u2026 make plays \u2026 and just trust my work.\u201d<\/p>\n Offensive Clinic: This was Brunson\u2019s fourth 30+ point game this postseason, all coming in wins. He\u2019s up to a Playoff career-best 125.8 OffRtg, the highest in this postseason 3. WEMBY\u2019S WORLD: THE DEFENSE & POISE THAT RULED GAME 1<\/p>\n \u201cUnbelieveable<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED<\/a>!!!!?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPhenomenal<\/a> performance\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama set the sports world on fire with his Game 1 performance, leaving everyone eager to see how he follows it up tonight in Game 2 (8:30 ET, NBC & Peacock).<\/p>\n And while his 40-piece, his 16 clutch points and his game-breaking highlights \u2014 like the near-logo 3<\/a> \u2014 may have generated the most yelling-at-the-screen moments<\/a>, he also lived up to his Kia Defensive Player of the Year title.<\/p>\n Shot-Changer: With Wemby on the floor, the Thunder shot 36.9% from the field (31-84). With him off, they shot 58.8% (10-17)<\/p>\n Paint Prowler: OKC was limited to only 38 PITP in Game 1, its lowest in these Playoffs. Wemby contested 12 shots in the paint, more than any player, with 3 blocks Wemby\u2019s defensive output Monday was in line with his numbers and his effectiveness against OKC all season.<\/p>\n Locking In: In five regular-season games defending the Thunder (4-1), Wembanyama\u2019s regular-season DefRtg (103.6) improved to 99.6, with a +10 plus\/minus<\/p>\n It\u2019s another example of how the 3rd-year big raises his game up on the biggest stages:<\/p>\n Emirates NBA Cup: Returning from a 12-game absence to help San Antonio take its first victory over OKC this season, Wemby (calf) had the Las Vegas crowd chanting \u201cM-V-P\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 for his 22 points, 9 boards and +21 in just 20 minutes of the West Cup Semifinals \u201cI think he has showed in his three years \u2013\u00a0in a lot of different situations with a lot of different circumstances \u2013 that he\u2019s gonna attack those moments,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n \u201dHe has some rare God-given ability \u2026 and he puts in even more work in preparation, to try maximizing that.\u201d<\/p>\n In His Own Words: \u201cThe relentlessness is built,\u201d Wemby said after Game 1 \u2026 \u201cThe mental toughness, you have to have it all the time\u2026 Wemby takes the stage in his next biggest moment tonight, for Game 2 in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n 4. PATIENCE PAYING OFF: INSIDE DYLAN HARPER\u2019S ROOKIE RISE<\/p>\n Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was set to tip off in 60 minutes.<\/p>\n Spurs at Thunder. A trip to the NBA Finals at stake. The whole hoops world watching.<\/p>\n Then rookie Dylan Harper got the news: veteran guard De\u2019Aaron Fox was out with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old was suddenly in the starting lineup.<\/p>\n \u201cTreat it like every other game,\u201d said Harper on what he told himself pregame. \u201cGoing with the mindset of just being me \u2026 be in attack mode at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n His Time: Harper was set to become the first rookie to make his first career Playoff start in the West Finals since 1979.<\/p>\n He had started just four games all season.<\/p>\n In his fifth, he delivered a performance that hadn\u2019t been seen in more than 50 years.<\/p>\n All-Time Energy: Harper finished with 24 points, 11 boards, 6 dimes and 7 steals, becoming the first player to post such a statline in a Playoff game since steals were first tracked in 1973-74 Rookie Rise: Harper\u2019s seven steals set a new Spurs Playoff single-game record. He finished the night with +14 plus-minus \u2013 trailing only Wemby \u2013 across 47 minutes.<\/p>\n The all-around performance wasn\u2019t a sudden breakthrough, but the latest step in Harper\u2019s steady ascension.<\/p>\n The Starting Point: The No. 2 pick in last year\u2019s Draft, Harper\u2019s four starts ranked 19th among his fellow 30 first-rounders What kept Harper committed to the slower climb?<\/p>\n \u201cFor moments like this,\u201d he said after Game 1. \u201cBeing around two great point guards in Steph and Fox \u2026 earlier in the season, when everyone didn\u2019t see the vision, I saw it and doubled down.\u201d<\/p>\n That patience is now paying dividends on one of the game\u2019s biggest stages, where a 20-year-old rookie looks right at home.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means the world,\u201d said Harper of starting for San Antonio in the West Finals. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to be anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. HOW WILL OKC RESPOND TO FIRST LOSS THIS POSTSEASON?<\/p>\n Losing is not something Oklahoma City is accustomed to at this time of year.<\/p>\n Dating back to Game 7 of last year\u2019s Finals, the Thunder had won nine consecutive Playoff contests. They swept both the Suns and the Lakers with a 16.6-point average margin of victory.<\/p>\n That changed Monday against the Spurs. Now, the defending champions are tasked with rebounding from defeat.<\/p>\n The Standout: Alex Caruso \u2013 two-time NBA champion \u2013 has been in such situations before. He had a team-high 31 points in Game 1 coming off the bench Beyond Caruso, other members of the Thunder are looking to step up for Game 2 after Monday\u2019s double-OT heartbreaker.<\/p>\n Tougher Test: In the West Semifinals, Chet Holmgren averaged 20 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, but was held to 8 and 8, respectively, on Monday Gilgeous-Alexander, the recently minted back-to-back Kia NBA MVP, was candid about his own struggles postgame. He shot 7-of-23 from the field, but still pitched in 24 points.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you\u2019re your best version, sometimes you\u2019re not,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to roll with the punches, don\u2019t get discouraged and stay true to who you are.\u201d Want to share\u00a0Starting\u00a05\u00a0with a friend?\u00a0Send them this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shape the Starting 5.\u00a0\u00a0Email us here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t have the NBA App? Download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Playoff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293413_78_original.jpg\")
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\nKnicks Heat Up: Four minutes later, the Knicks were riding an 18-1 avalanche to get within five, capped by a personal 11-0 run from Brunson to send MSG into a frenzy
\nThey Kept Coming\u2026: A 3 from Landry Shamet<\/a> (9 pts, 3-3 3PM) hit rim, glass, rim, rim \u2013 and in \u2013 with 44 seconds left to tie the game at 99
\nAnd Coming\u2026: When Harden answered with a 2, it was \u2013 who else, but Brunson \u2013 banking in the game-tying floater with 19 ticks to play
\nAnd Closing: Cleveland had one more look in regulation, but Sam Merrill\u2019s potential 3-point winner rimmed out, and New York kept roaring, dominating OT 14-3 to finish the job<\/p>\n![\"Jalen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293414_893_original.jpg\")
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\nBut On This Stage? In a game of this magnitude? It had never been recorded, as 68 teams in the play-by-play era have faced a 20+ point 4th-quarter deficit in the Conference Finals, and all 68 have lost
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve seen that in a Playoff game,\u201d said Knicks coach Mike Brown postgame. \u201cWhatever we were down, to find a way to come back and win \u2013 I just take my hat off to the group.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"OG](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293415_676_original.jpg\")
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\nComplete Cast: In that same span, the Knicks shot 15-of-20 (75%), with OG Anunoby (10), Shamet (9) and Mikal Bridges (6) combining for 25 points and a slew of clutch buckets
\nComplete Captain: Meanwhile, Brunson dropped 17 on 8-of-10 shooting, single-handedly outscoring Cleveland to ignite \u2013 and ice \u2013 an all-time rally
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a testament to the grit and the resiliency of this locker room,\u201d said Karl-Anthony Towns (13 pts, 13 reb, 5 ast). \u201cIt\u2019s not about individual performances, it\u2019s about finding a way to win \u2026 that\u2019s what\u2019s special tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"[](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293415_114_original.jpg\")
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\nOne-On-Five: For the fourth time in these Playoffs, Brunson outscored the opposing team during a burst of 10+ consecutive points he piled up, besting the Cavs 11-1 in a four-possession stretch
\n\u201cI\u2019ll realize after the fact,\u201d Brunson said of the zone he was in. \u201cI\u2019m just happy we found a way to win \u2026 My teammates got belief in me, my coaches, it\u2019s all credit to them.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Jalen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293416_691_original.jpg\")
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\n\u201cJalen Brunson is special,\u201d Karl-Anthony Towns said. \u201cWhen he\u2019s playing that way, and he\u2019s making points and buckets like that, I\u2019m just blessed that I get a front-row seat to watch it.\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s the leader,\u201d said Brown of Brunson. \u201cHe\u2019s our guy \u2026 There were a couple things that he felt and he made sure that we knew. And our guys responded to him.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Victor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293416_600_original.jpg\")
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\nDifference Maker: In nearly 49 minutes played, he was a game-high +16
\n\u201cDefensively, he was in his stance almost all night\u2026 he led the way,\u201d coach Mitch Johnson said. \u201cThat\u2019s 49 big minutes, and it was high-level for the majority of those.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nChristmas Day: Fast-forward 13 days when Wemby supported a third win in that span over OKC with 19 pts and 11 boards. The Spurs handed the defending champs their first home loss in their 31st game
\nAll-Star 2026: Ant Edwards may have taken MVP honors, but as he said, \u201cWemby set the tone.\u201d Over two mini-games for Team World, Wemby tallied 33 points, topped only by Kawhi Leonard
\n2026 Clinchers: Past concussion protocol, Wemby returned fresh with 17 pts, 14 reb and 6 blk to finish off Portland in Round 1, before providing 19 pts and 3 blk in eliminating the Wolves in the West Semis<\/p>\n![\"Victor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293419_516_original.jpg\")
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\n\u201cAnd yes it takes a toll, but we will rest in July.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Carter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293419_768_original.jpg\")
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\nAll-Time Company: In that same span, only two other players have recorded at least 20\/10\/5\/5 in a Conference Finals game: Julius Erving (1980) and Larry Bird (1981)
\nAttack Mode: Fourteen of Harper\u2019s 24 points came in the paint, and he scored 11 in the 4th quarter and overtime (where he played 20 of the 22 available minutes)
\nPressure Plays: That included a crucial and-one with 2:04 left in double-OT to put the Spurs up four, before the rook sealed the win at the line with 15 ticks to play
\n\u201cHe has shown poise and composure beyond his years,\u201d said Johnson of Harper. \u201cI thought [his aggression] was phenomenal. And I thought he was even better defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Dylan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293420_657_original.gif\")
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\nThe Patience: But Harper embraced the slower path, learning from Fox and standout sophomore Stephon Castle while steadily earning a larger role
\nThe Playoff Payoff: This postseason, Harper\u2019s taken his game to new heights, boosting his scoring from 11.8 ppg in the regular season to 14.6, with upticks in rebounds (5.6), steals (1.7) and minutes (27) per game
\nAnother Level: That includes three 24+ point games in these Playoffs, more than he had the entire regular season (2)<\/p>\n![\"Chet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293421_967_original.jpg\")
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\nGood As Glue: The 9th-year guard was also the primary defender on Victor Wembanyma, forcing two turnovers, while holding all others to 2-for-10 shooting
\n\u201cHe played his butt off \u2026 I\u2019m proud of him,\u201d said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. \u201cBut I expect that from Alex, especially at this time of year. He always brings it.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Chet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779293421_917_original.jpg\")
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\nX-Factor: OKC is 25-1 across the regular and postseason when Holmgren scored 20+ points<\/p>\n
\nSlow Start, Strong Close: SGA began Game 1 1-of-5 from the field, but turned it up late, scoring 16 clutch points to bring OKC to the brink of victory
\nOKC Answers: Now he\u2019ll look to lead the Thunder to a Game 2 response \u2013 and OKC has a knack for bouncing back, with a 13-5 record following a loss this season<\/p>\n