As the final seconds ran off the clock Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet headed to the baseline, where he slapped hands with former Knicks guard John Starks. Shamet then greeted filmmaker Spike Lee courtside and celebrated with his teammates. Ex-Knicks center Patrick Ewing also walked toward halfcourt to congratulate Shamet, a reserve who played a major role in New York’s 115-104 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Shamet played just over three minutes off the bench in the first quarter and didn’t re-enter until nine minutes and nine seconds remained in regulation. By then, the Knicks were down 85-71. They then allowed eight consecutive points and were seemingly on their way to having their seven-game winning streak ended.
Still, New York never let up, and coach Mike Brown never took Shamet out again. Shamet defended Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell, who made a 3-pointer to put Cleveland up 92-71 and give him 29 points. From there, Shamet helped shut down Mitchell, who didn’t score again and missed his final five shots.
On offense, Shamet was just as effective. He made a 3 with 44.3 seconds left in regulation that bounced high off the rim and through the hoop, tying the score at 99-99. And with 1:49 remaining in overtime, Shamet connected on another 3, putting the Knicks ahead 110-101. Shamet had nine points (making all three of his 3’s) and finished +25, the best plus-minus of any player.
“He was fantastic,” Brown said. “He was the difference in the ball game tonight on both ends of the floor.”
Shamet wasn’t the only New York player who came through in the clutch Tuesday. After trailing 93-71 with 7:52 remaining, the Knicks outscored the Cavaliers 44-11 the rest of the way as they completed the second-largest fourth quarter playoff comeback since the 1996-97 season.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson finished with a game-high 38 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter and overtime. At one point, Brunson scored 11 consecutive Knicks’ points, cutting Cleveland’s lead to 94-89 with 3:30 left. And after James Harden put the Cavaliers up 101-99, Brunson made a floater off the backboard to tie the score with 19.3 seconds remaining. Brunson committed his fifth foul on an offensive charge in overtime with the Knicks ahead by four points, but the Cavaliers couldn’t take advantage and Brunson had two assists and a steal to help secure the win.
OG Anunoby, meanwhile, had nine of his 13 points in overtime when he made seven of eight free throws. Anunoby returned after missing the final two games of the semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a hamstring injury.
The Knicks anticipate heroics from Brunson and Anunoby, two starters who have been the team’s best players this postseason. They don’t have the same expectations for Shamet.
In October 2024, the Knicks waived Shamet after he dislocated his right shoulder. Two months later, he re-signed with the Knicks, averaging 5.7 points in 50 games during the regular season and 2.4 points in 11 playoff games.
This past September, the Knicks agreed to a one-year deal with Shamet for just over $3 million. He secured the final roster spot the next month, but he sustained a shoulder injury in late November and missed 25 consecutive games. When he returned, he had some impressive performances, including scoring 18 points in just over 15 minutes in a 54-point win over the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 21 and 23 points in 26 minutes in a 12-point victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1.
Still, when the playoffs came, Shamet was mostly out of the rotation until he scored 15 points in 26 minutes in a Game 3 victory over the 76ers in the conference semifinals. He had one more point in that game than he had in the first eight postseason games.
On Tuesday night, Brown again didn’t have Shamet in the rotation until early in the fourth quarter when the Knicks needed to do something to stop the Cavaliers. And Shamet responded, helping turn what looked like a disappointing loss into a thrilling comeback. After leading 93-71 on a Harden free throw, the Cavaliers made only four of 18 field goals, including two of 11 on 3’s, over the final 7:52 of regulation and overtime.
The Knicks, meanwhile, went 15 of 21 during that stretch, including six of nine on 3’s, to pull off the victory. They have now won eight consecutive playoff games, extending a franchise record. While Brunson, Anunoby, center Karl-Anthony Towns and wing Mikal Bridges performed at a high level as usual, the Knicks wouldn’t be up 1-0 heading into Thursday’s Game 2 without Shamet.
Since entering the NBA as a first round pick in 2018, Shamet has played for six franchises and has never spent more than two consecutive seasons with one team. He is set to become a free agent this summer, too, and understands the transient nature of being a reserve. His role may change again in Game 2. But on Tuesday night, he took advantage of his extended playing time and celebrated with the fans and teammates who have made this Knicks team so beloved in a city that is starving for a championship.
