The New York Knicks have been on a roll lately, and everyone knew they’d be a tough opponent for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. That’s why Cavs fans were feeling so good when their team held such a huge advantage over their competitors in the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t hold it, and the Knicks stunned the Cavs with a massive comeback and 115-104 overtime victory on Tuesday night. At one point, the Cavs had a 22-point lead, but they still ended up losing. Speaking on 92.3 The Fan, Ken Carman didn’t go easy on the Cavaliers.
He thinks they still have a chance to win the series, but doesn’t find it as likely and thinks this was one of the biggest collapses in recent NBA history.
“I’m not gonna say the series is over… You were up by 22 and it’s one of the greatest choke jobs in NBA history. It’s a monumental choke job,” Carman said.
"I'm not gonna say the series is over… You were up by 22 and it's one of the greatest choke jobs in NBA history. It's a monumental choke job."
🚨@KenCarman to @SportsBoyTony on #Cavs blown lead in Game 1 of ECF pic.twitter.com/VAaLKYKLo0
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) May 20, 2026
It’s really hard to win a game when Jalen Brunson is playing like he did, scoring 38 points and six assists. The former Clutch Player of the Year was showing why he is the clear leader in New York. Brunson alone outscored the Cavs 15-8 during the final seven minutes of regulation.
He targeted James Harden again and again and was able to get away with just about anything. Beyond that, it felt like the Cavaliers had just lost their footing and weren’t sure how to respond to such a resounding comeback. The Knicks caught them flat-footed, and Cleveland just couldn’t find a way to get stable again.
This was a humiliating loss and the worst way for the Cavs to start the series. Although they were underdogs, people didn’t expect this kind of defeat. Moving forward, fans will be too afraid to really believe because they’ll be certain that things could fall apart again.
The good news is that this is Game 1, and that means the Cavaliers have plenty of time to figure things out and ensure nothing like this happens again.
Hopefully, this is the last time the Cavaliers give away such an important game.
NEXT: Donovan Mitchell Sends Clear Message About Cavs' Loss To Knicks
