Overview
- The New York Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime, with Jalen Brunson scoring 38 points to lead the comeback in a game that shifted momentum late on Monday.
- Knicks coach Mike Brown said New York deliberately hunted James Harden on switches in the fourth quarter, and Harden finished 5-of-16 for 15 points as Cleveland squandered a 93-71 lead with 7:52 remaining.
- Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson defended keeping Harden on the floor, saying he trusted Harden’s defense, but the collapse has put immediate pressure on Cleveland to adjust late-game coverages and personnel for Game 2.
- In the West, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime with rookie Dylan Harper logging 47 minutes and a 24-11-6-7-steals line while Stephon Castle added 17 points and 11 assists after a starter was sidelined.
- Both openers carry short-term and roster implications: New York hosts Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday with Cleveland re-examining Harden’s role, and San Antonio must decide whether Harper’s expanded minutes become a permanent rotation change.