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.
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.
