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James Harden’s defensive liabilities came into focus in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 1 collapse against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
The Cavaliers led by as many as 22 points before Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a storming comeback victory, 115-104. Brunson had 38 points, including crucial buckets in the fourth quarter while Harden was guarding him.
Harden put the Cavaliers ahead with a few seconds to play, while Brunson answered back to tie the game. Cleveland’s Sam Merrill had an opportunity to give Cleveland the game-winning basket at the end of the fourth quarter, but his shot rolled around the rim and out.
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New York Knicks’ Mikal Bridges, left, covers Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden during the overtime period of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York, then, outscored Cleveland, 14-3 in overtime to put the finishing touches on an incredible comeback.
Harden had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists, but was marked with six turnovers and was minus-6 on the floor. NBA fans targeted Harden for failing to do enough on defense when it mattered the most – a critique that has haunted him his entire career.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown pointed out after the game that the plan was to attack Harden.
“There is no secret: We were attacking Harden,” Brown said. “Sometimes you’ve got to do what the game dictates, and they were trying to do the same thing with Jalen, so we said, ‘OK, we feel like we can play that game.’ We try not to play that game much, but we feel like we have a guy that we can play that game with in Jalen.”
Harden credited Brunson with making tough plays down the stretch.
New York Knicks’ Jose Alvarado, right, knocks the ball from the hands of Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden, second from right, during the first half of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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“He made some tough ones, but we obviously all know he’s a great 1-on-1 player,” Harden said. “Anybody on an island, it’s going to be difficult, so we’ve got to do a better job of making sure he sees bodies. On the other hand, they do a good job at supporting him and helping him when he’s on an island. He made some tough ones, but we’ve got to do a better job as a team.”
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson claimed the team made adjustments, but nothing worked.
“We started sending two at him, getting the ball out of his hands, full rotating,” Atkinson said. “James was good most of the game. Listen, we weren’t great defensively in the fourth quarter.”
He said he never considered taking Harden off the floor defensively.
“Listen, he’s been one of our best defenders and a big player in the playoffs,” Atkinson said. “I trust him. He’s smart, great hands.”
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, right, moves past Cleveland Cavaliers’ Dennis Schroder, left, during the second half of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Game 2 is set for Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.