New York Knicks mencatatkan kebangkitan terbesar kedua dalam sejarah kuarter keempat playoff NBA untuk mengalahkan Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 pada Game 1 Final Wilayah Timur, Selasa (20/5/2026) waktu setempat.

Tertinggal 22 poin dengan sisa 7 menit 52 detik di regulasi, Knicks membalikkan keadaan di Madison Square Garden melalui delapan kemenangan beruntun mereka.

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Garda Jalen Brunson memimpin serangan dengan 15 poin di kuarter keempat, membuat James Haden kesulitan bertahan.

Analis Soroti Performa Brunson

Analis First Take Stephen A. Smith menyoroti dominasi Brunson yang dinilainya sangat menyudutkan pertahanan Cavaliers.

"Jalen Brunson should be arrested for the assault he put on James Harden. It was really, really bad," ujar Smith.

Ia menambahkan bahwa momen tersebut menjadi salah satu saat langka ketika lawan benar-benar tidak berkutik.

"It was one of the rare moments in the history of James Harden's career where you absolutely felt sorry for him," kata Smith.

Smith juga mengkritik pelatih kepala Kenny Atkinson yang dianggap membiarkan Harden tanpa bantuan.

"Not only was he abused and assaulted by Jalen Brunson, but he was also neglected by his coach, who showed no sympathy whatsoever," sebut Smith.

Knicks Akui Kehilangan Kendali di Kuarter Tengah

Brunson mengakui timnya sempat kehilangan kendali pada kuarter kedua dan ketiga sebelum bangkit.

"They were playing great basketball, had us on our heels," kata Brunson.

Ia menegaskan kegagalan menjaga ritme di paruh tengah menjadi evaluasi terbesar timnya.

"It was the middle, second and third quarter, where we let go of the rope. So that's our biggest takeaway," ujar Brunson.