Cleveland Blew a 22-Point Lead: And Their Perfect 27-0 Record Is GONE

Holy smokes, did you guys catch Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals? Because what went down in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night was absolutely WILD, and not in a good way for Cleveland! The Cavaliers were up by a massive 22 points with less than eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. TWENTY-TWO POINTS! And then, I kid you not, the hometown New York Knicks went on a shocking 44-11 run, obliterating that lead and forcing overtime. By the final buzzer, Cleveland lost by double digits, 115-104. Just brutal, right? That’s the kind of gut punch that leaves you staring at the wall, wondering what just happened.

History Books, But Not the Good Kind

This wasn't just any loss, folks. This was the kind of collapse that makes you rewind the tape just to make sure your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. That epic 44-11 run didn't just spoil a series-opening upset bid, it completely torched Cleveland's pristine 27-0 record this season when leading by 20 points or more at any point in a game. Think about that for a second: 27-0! Gone! Poof! And if that wasn't enough, this absolute meltdown actually stands as the second-largest fourth quarter collapse in NBA playoffs history, only surpassed by the Memphis Grizzlies blowing a 24-point cushion against the LA Clippers way back in 2012. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, and honestly, this postseason has been a rollercoaster for the Cavs, needing seven games to get past the Toronto Raptors in the first round despite going up 2-0, and then another seven to survive the Detroit Pistons in the second round, even after leading 3-2 with Game 6 at home. You'd think they'd learn to close things out, wouldn't you?

Donovan Mitchell Is Keeping It Real

Through all the playoff struggles, star Donovan Mitchell has been the guy pulling this team. He's the one who took the Cavs back to the conference finals for the first time since LeBron James led them on that incredible four-year run from 2015-2018. And even after this absolute crusher of a loss, Mitchell is trying to keep the faith. He told ESPN on Wednesday, "It's been worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat with this group, just because it's been a pleasure to come into work while being able to deal with the ups and the downs." He knows this group is different, saying, "This group is great because we didn't just come here to be like, 'Hey! [We made it].' But we built to that point." That's the kind of leadership you need when everything feels like it’s falling apart. So, what's next after a gut-wrenching, record-shattering collapse like that? Game 2 is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Can the Cavs regroup? Can Mitchell rally the troops and put this Game 1 disaster behind them? The stakes couldn't be higher. This is where they find out what they're truly made of.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.