Heroes, zeros from Knicks’ Game 1 win over Cavaliers: James Harden had night to forget

Heroes and zeros from the Knicks’ 115-104 Game 1 win over the Cavaliers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden:  

Hero

Quiet for three quarters, Jalen Brunson threw on his Superman cape when the situation was its most dire.

He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, carrying the Knicks to a comeback from 22 points down.

His jumper with 19.3 seconds left in regulation forced overtime, and his assist on a Landry Shamet 3-pointer with 1:49 to go iced the dramatic Game 1 victory.

Brunson finished with 38 points on 15-for-29 shooting — his fourth 30-point effort of this postseason.

He also had six assists.

Zero

James Harden had more turnovers (six) than field goals (five).

He also shot 5-for-16 from the field and came up small late in regulation and overtime.

James Harden, who had a rough Game 1, reacts after scoring during the third quarter of the Knicks’ 115-104 overtime win over the Cavaliers on May 19, 2026 at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

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Unsung hero

OG Anunoby’s return didn’t result in Landry Shamet being glued to the bench.

With Josh Hart struggling, coach Mike Brown called on Shamet, and he provided a major jolt with nine points on three 3-pointers and terrific defense on Mitchell.

In the nine minutes Shamet was on the floor, the Knicks outscored the Cavaliers by 20 points.

Key stat

22: The Cavaliers lead in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers lead in the fourth quarter.