Landry Shamet's Game 1 heroics proving why Knicks' depth is so important | amNewYork

The Knicks overcame a 22-point deficit late in regulation to defeat the Cavaliers 115-104 and take a 1-0 Eastern Conference Finals lead. After Cleveland led 22 with 7:40 remaining, New York outscored Cleveland 44-11 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Jalen Brunson scored 15 points down the stretch, while Landry Shamet delivered key moments off the bench. Shamet hit a three with under a minute left in regulation to tie the game at 99, then made another three with 1:49 left in overtime to extend the lead. His defense also limited Donovan Mitchell to three points on 1-of-4 shooting in the fourth quarter. Shamet’s vocal energy and two-way impact helped shift momentum during the comeback.

"With under a minute left in regulation, he rattled home a three-pointer to tie the game at 99 the first time the Knicks had drawn level with Cleveland since the first half. I didn't realize at the time that one would have tied it up, Shamet said. That's where you kinda want to be. When you're flowing, you don't want to be thinking about things. The ball found me, I was open in transition, let the ball fly, and it went in."

"He then sank another three with 1:49 left in overtime to provide the dagger, putting the Knicks up nine. He played big-time, Brunson said. He's up to any task that you put in front of him. He's been that player for us, and we have the utmost faith in him. Big shots aside, it was Shamet's defense that helped turn the tide for the Knicks in the fourth quarter."

"He held Donovan Mitchell to just three points on 1-of-4 shooting in the fourth quarter after the Cavs star went off for 26 in the first three. When they were still down 17, Shamet was one of the most vocal, trying to light a fire under his team. Landry Shamet was great, Brown said. He was great on both ends of the floor. He came up big."

"You're not going to stop a guy like Donovan Mitchell. Landry tried like heck to make him work. He was fantastic. He was the difference in the ballgame tonight on both ends of the floor. One of the key reasons Shamet was able to be such a difference-maker was the way he was utilized. He played just over three minutes acro"

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