“To be down 18, 19, 20 – whatever we were down – and to find a way to come back and win, I take my hat off to my group.”

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored 17 of his 38 points in the final eight minutes of regulation time and overtime, while Mikal Bridges finished with 18 points and Karl-Anthony Towns 13 points and 13 rebounds.

“The team’s relentless. You never know whose night it’s going to be, but we’re going to figure it out,” guard Miles McBride said.

Donovan Mitchell led the scoring for the Cavaliers with 29 points, although only three came in the fourth quarter.

It was their 11th game in 21 days, while the Knicks had not played for nine days.

“We should have won the game,” Mitchell said.

“We’re up 22 with God knows how much time – got to win the game.”

Game two of the best-of-seven series will take place at the same venue on Thursday (01:00 BST, Friday).

The series winners will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. The Spurs lead 1-0.

They meet at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Wednesday (01:30 BST, Thursday).