The New York Knicks pulled off a stunning comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
The result had the basketball world buzzing, including Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley.
Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley React to Knicks’ ECF Game 1 Comeback Over Cavaliers
Right after the demolition people saw in the WCF Game 1 yesterday, fans saw another detonation in the East.
The Knicks were trailing 93-71 with just 7:52 left on the clock. Jalen Brunson stepped up, and what he did was flat-out brutal.
A massive 22-point lead disappeared right in front of Cleveland’s eyes as MSG erupted in loud roars. New York went on to outscore the Cavaliers 14-3 in OT and closed the game at 115-104, with Brunson recording 38 points and 5 rebounds, going 15-of-29 from the floor.
DON’T MISS: ‘ABSOLUTE MADNESS,’ ‘Come Back, Bron!’ — NBA World Reacts to Cavaliers’ ‘Brutal’ Game 1 Collapse vs. Knicks
Johnson did not waste time pinning the win on the Knicks’ star guard.
“The Knicks were down 22 points against the Cavaliers when Jalen Brunson decided to take over and put the Knicks on his back!! He scored 17 of his 38 points in the 4th quarter to lead the Knicks to a win 115-104 in OT. There’s no way the Cavaliers should’ve lost this game. It’s going to be hard to recover from this loss and win the Series,” he wrote.
Minutes later, the Lakers legend doubled down, and this time on Brunson’s ceiling.
“Jalen Brunson’s performance tonight proved, once again, that he has the talent to lead the Knicks to a NBA Championship!”
Barkley did not extend the same courtesy to the Cavaliers. “I don’t like to get on TV and say people choked. But that was a damn choke job. I’m gonna say it now. I’m very selective when I say it. They had a 22-point lead, and they just started milking the clock.”
Then came his verdict on where the series stands. “The Knicks feel like they stole one. Cleveland has got to be deflated. All losses are not the same.”
THE LARGEST PLAYOFF COMEBACK IN NEW YORK KNICKS HISTORY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Wx7x7bkUJO
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 20, 2026
Disappointed Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson also took heat from Barkley, who called him out, saying, “He let the lead go from 20 to 6 and never called a timeout.”
Since 1997–98, the Cavs have become the second team to lead a playoff game by 22 points in the fourth quarter, only to lose it later.
The last time this happened was in 2012, in the Western Conference first round, when the Memphis Grizzlies blew a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter and ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Clippers.
On the Cavs’ end, Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points, going 12-of-23, while James Harden committed more turnovers (6) than field goals (5).
Game 2 tips off Thursday at 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden, and the Cavaliers need to get back on their feet as soon as possible.
