The Cavs coughed up one of the most stunning collapses in recent playoff memory, surrendering a 22-point fourth quarter lead to Jalen Brunson and the Knicks in overtime, and Ken and Lima spend the opening of the show nearly as heated with each other as they are with the team. Ken calls it one of the greatest choke jobs in NBA history and questions whether the series is already cooked, while Lima pushes back hard — arguing you can't declare a series over after one game against a team you were already picked to lose to, and that the Cavs still have six more chances to respond. The real culprit is clear to both of them once the dust settles — Kenny Atkinson never adjusted defensively as Brunson went supernova, Harden played 42 minutes and couldn't defend or score down the stretch, and a Knicks team with actual shooters made Cleveland pay every time they tried to double, which is nothing like what Detroit threw at them.
The Cavs Blew a 22-Point Lead and Ken and Lima Nearly Blow Up the Show
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives around James Harden #1 and Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City.
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima
The only place to talk about the Cleveland sports scene weekday mornings is with Ken Carman and Anthony Lima from 6-10a! The show guides you through…
