Why did Cavs collapse in ECF Game 1?

Knicks’ 22-point fourth-quarter surge exposes Cavs’ late-game problems

Cleveland carried a 22-point lead late in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, but the advantage evaporated in a collapse that ended with the Knicks winning 115-104 in overtime.

Multiple storylines from that game converge on one theme: the Cavs’ control didn’t hold when New York’s offense heated up and their desperation increased. Cleveland’s late-game execution broke down in a way that showed up in the game flow—particularly in the run-up to the final stretch, when the Knicks flipped momentum and turned it into scoring bursts.

Knicks’ strategy mattered. Coach Mike Brown specifically highlighted attacking James Harden, and Harden became a focal point of the Knicks’ offensive game plan. New York also benefited from a fourth-quarter offensive takeover by Jalen Brunson, who scored heavily during the late surge and helped drag the team back from the deficit.

From Cleveland’s side, the issues weren’t limited to one player. Several coverage angles point to Harden’s struggles in the clutch (including a high turnover count relative to shooting efficiency) as well as broader lapses as the game tilted. Even when the Cavs appeared to have time to secure the win, the Knicks’ production accelerated quickly enough to make Cleveland’s lead irrelevant.

The result also resonated beyond the scoreboard: the Knicks’ comeback closed Game 1 with historically rare odds, marking the kind of reversal that changes how fans and analysts view both teams’ matchup. For Cleveland, it’s a wake-up call about late-game composure; for New York, it’s a confirmation that their late-game ceiling can be lethal if they stay organized through the final minutes.

This is why the collapse matters: it shifts series pressure immediately, forces Cleveland to rethink late possession decision-making, and validates New York’s belief that the team can withstand adversity and still produce enough offense to win.