You don't necessarily need stats to tell you that any NBA team blowing a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter of a playoff game is historic. But there are some numbers that we absolutely need to highlight after the New York Knicks' epic comeback to win Game 1 in overtime over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
What was the culprit? Was it the Danhausen Curse rearing its head with the WWE wrestler in attendance at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday? Was it James Harden's awful defense that Jalen Brunson and the Knicks picked apart in possession after possession?
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Whatever it was, the Cavs' loss was one of historic proportions. Here are three stats proving it:
How many NBA teams have blown a 20-point lead with seven minutes left in a playoff game?
Teams up 20+ with 7 minutes to go in the fourth quarter of playoff games were 643-0 ...
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) May 20, 2026
Until tonight.
(per @NateDuncanNBA)
The answer is: One. The Knicks did it.
The Cavaliers had a 99.9 percent win probability
The Cavs had a 99.9% (!!!) chance to win the game with 7:49 remaining and lost.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 20, 2026
UNREAL. 🤯🤯🤯
(via @espn, h/t @TrashTalk_fr) pic.twitter.com/ztyjP1kumq
We here at FTW love wild win probability charts.
How many NBA teams have trailed by 22 points in the fourth quarter of a playoff game and won?
According to ESPN Analytics, the Knicks win probability was as low as 0.1% 🤯
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 20, 2026
Teams trailing by 22 points in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since 1997-98 were 1-594 entering Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/vk7NUIilGQ
That would be two since 1997-98. The Knicks are one of them.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 3 Knicks stats proving how historic Cavaliers collapse was