The Knicks will tip off against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8:00PM ET. (TV: ESPN; Radio: 880 ESPN New York)
This Day in Knicks History:
May 21, 2000: After three straight tough Game 7 losses, the Knicks break through and defeat the Miami Heat, 83-82, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Latrell Sprewell chases down a Clarence Weatherspoon miss with :2.1 remaining to seal the deal.
Game 1 Recap:
New York (5/19/26) – The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-104 in Game 1. Jalen Brunson led New York with 38 points on 51.7-percent shooting, six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Mikal Bridges scored 18 points on 63.6-percent shooting, five rebounds, two steals and one assist. Karl-Anthony Towns collected 13 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 29 points on 52.2-percent shooting, six steals, five rebounds, three assists and one block. Evan Mobley registered 15 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Jarrett Allen had 10 points on 50.0-percent shooting, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.
KNICKS COMPLETE SECOND LARGEST 4TH QUARTER COMEBACK IN NBA PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Jalen Brunson registered 38 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals (May 19). This marks his second playoff game as a Knick registering 30+ points and three or more steals, tying Bernard King and Patrick Ewing for first all-time in franchise history. This also marks his 25th playoff game as a Knick scoring 30+ points, which ranks first all-time in Knicks history. Brunson also marked his fourth playoff game as a Knick recording three or more steals, which ties for eighth all-time in franchise history. He also recorded his 2,000th career playoff point in his 78th playoff game, becoming the 18th fastest player and second fastest point guard (Stephen Curry – 77 games) in NBA playoff history.
Karl-Anthony Towns registered 13 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block (May 19). This marks his 20th playoff game as a Knick registering a double-double, which ranks sixth all-time in franchise history. This also marks his seventh double-double of the postseason, which ties for first in the NBA. Towns also marked his 20th playoff game as a Knick with 10+ rebounds, tying Walt Frazier for sixth all-time in franchise history.
Mikal Bridges finished with 18 points, five rebounds, two steals and one assist (May 19). This marks his 10th playoff game as a Knick recording 10+ points and two or more steals, which ranks ninth all-time in franchise history. Bridges also marked his 12th playoff game as a Knick registering two or more steals, tying for ninth all-time in Knicks history. Mitchell Robinson added four points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist (May 19). This marks his 11th career playoff game recording two or more steals, which ties for 10th all-time in franchise history.
The Knicks came back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, which marks the fourth time since the 1996-97 NBA playoffs and the first time since the 2014-15 NBA playoffs that a team has come back from down 20+ points in a fourth quarter and won ((Celtics vs. Nets (2002); Clippers vs. Grizzlies (2012); Warriors vs. Pelicans (2015)). The Knicks completed the second largest fourth quarter comeback in NBA playoff history since the 1996-97 season. The Knicks have won eight consecutive playoff games, which marks the longest in the NBA since the 2023-24 Boston Celtics (10).
Connection:
Knicks head coach Mike Brown was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for five consecutive seasons (2005-2010) and returned as head coach for the 2013-2014 season… Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman is from Brooklyn, NY…Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant was the Knicks associate head coach from 2020-2024. NY Knicks announcer Walt “Clyde” Frazier played three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-80)…Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell was born in Elmsford, NY… Cavaliers assistant coach Omar Cook was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended St. John’s University in Queens, New York…Knicks guard Miles McBride was born in Cincinnati, Ohio…Cavaliers Head coach Kenny Atkinson was born in Northport, New York and was also an assistant coach for the Knicks for four seasons (2008-2012)...Cavaliers assistant coach Jawad Williams was coached by Knicks head coach Mike Brown for two seasons (2008-2010)... Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson and Knicks head coach Mike Brown were assistant coaches for the Golden State Warriors for one season (2021-2022)...Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant was teammates with Josh Hart on the Los Angeles Lakers for one season (2017-18)… Knicks guard Josh Hart and Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. were traded for each other during the 2021-22 season. .. Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson and Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell were teammates on the Utah Jazz for three seasons (2019-2022) …Clarkson played on the Cavaliers (2018-19)... Knicks guard Landry Shamet and Cavaliers guard James Harden played on the Brooklyn Nets together for one season (2020-21)...Cavaliers guard Dennis Schröder was teammates with OG Anunoby in Toronto from 2023-2024... Dennis Schröder was also teammates with Mikal Bridges in Brooklyn during the 2023-2024 season.