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James Harden’s protect liabilities came into attraction successful nan Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 1 illness against nan New York Knicks connected Tuesday night.
The Cavaliers led by arsenic galore arsenic 22 points earlier Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a storming comeback victory, 115-104. Brunson had 38 points, including important buckets successful nan 4th fourth while Harden was guarding him.
Harden put nan Cavaliers up pinch a fewer seconds to play, while Brunson answered backmost to necktie nan game. Cleveland’s Sam Merrill had an opportunity to springiness Cleveland nan game-winning handbasket astatine nan extremity of nan 4th quarter, but his changeable rolled astir nan rim and out.
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New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges, left, covers Cleveland Cavaliers' James Harden during nan overtime play of Game 1 successful nan Eastern Conference finals NBA hoops playoffs bid Tuesday, May 19, 2026, successful New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York, then, outscored Cleveland, 14-3 successful overtime to put nan finishing touches connected an unthinkable comeback.
Harden had 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but was marked pinch six turnovers and was minus-6 connected nan floor. NBA fans targeted Harden for failing to do capable connected defense erstwhile it mattered nan astir – a critique that has haunted him his full career.
Knicks caput coach Mike Brown pointed retired aft nan crippled that nan scheme was to onslaught Harden.
"There is nary secret: We were attacking Harden," Brown said. "Sometimes you’ve sewage to do what nan crippled dictates, and they were trying to do nan aforesaid point pinch Jalen, truthful we said, ‘OK, we consciousness for illustration we tin play that game.’ We effort not to play that crippled much, but we consciousness for illustration we person a feline that we tin play that crippled pinch successful Jalen."
Harden credited Brunson pinch making reliable plays down nan stretch.
New York Knicks' Jose Alvarado, right, knocks nan shot from nan hands of Cleveland Cavaliers' James Harden, 2nd from right, during nan first half of Game 1 successful nan Eastern Conference finals NBA hoops playoffs series, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, successful New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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"He made immoderate reliable ones, but we evidently each cognize he’s a awesome 1-on-1 player," Harden said. "Anybody connected an island, it’s going to beryllium difficult, truthful we’ve sewage to do a amended occupation of making judge he sees bodies. On nan different hand, they do a bully occupation astatine supporting him and helping him erstwhile he’s connected an island. He made immoderate reliable ones, but we’ve sewage to do a amended occupation arsenic a team."
Cavaliers caput coach Kenny Atkinson claimed nan squad made adjustments, but thing worked.
"We started sending 2 astatine him, getting nan shot retired of his hands, afloat rotating," Atkinson said. "James was bully astir of nan game. Listen, we weren’t awesome defensively successful nan 4th quarter."
He said he ne'er considered taking Harden disconnected nan level defensively.
"Listen, he’s been 1 of our champion defenders and a large subordinate successful nan playoffs," Atkinson said. "I spot him. He’s smart, awesome hands."
New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson, right, moves past Cleveland Cavaliers' Dennis Schroder, left, during nan 2nd half of Game 1 successful nan Eastern Conference finals NBA hoops playoffs series, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, successful New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Game 2 is group for Thursday nighttime astatine 8 p.m. ET astatine Madison Square Garden.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
