Madison Square Garden wanted a Christmas classic. The New York Knicks delivered one. Down 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Knicks stormed back to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124, riding Jalen Brunson’s cool hand and a bench that flipped the game on its head.

Brunson finished with 34 points and drilled the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:05 to play, the defining shot in a wild swing that turned a long night into a loud celebration. Jordan Clarkson poured in 25 off the bench, Tyler Kolek added 16 points and nine assists, and Mitchell Robinson vacuumed up 13 rebounds as New York pulled off one of the most dramatic wins of the season.

The Christmas Day swing at Madison Square Garden

This game had everything: an early Cleveland avalanche, a Knicks surge before halftime, another Cavaliers push, and finally a New York burst that stunned the visitors. Cleveland blasted out to an 18-3 start and led 38-23 after the first quarter, looking every bit in control.

New York answered in the second. The Knicks made 12 of their first 14 shots in the period and slipped into halftime with a 60-58 lead. It felt like a reset, but the third quarter tilted back to the Cavs.

How Cleveland built—and lost—control

The Cavaliers opened the third with a 10-3 burst, then ripped off an 18-4 run to go up 89-75. They had pace, poise, and, for most of the night, the best player on the floor in Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland’s quarter-by-quarter line—38 in the first, 20 in the second, 38 again in the third—told a story of steady scoring and top-end shot making.

But the fourth belonged to New York. The Knicks dropped 42 points in the final frame, turning stops into rhythm shots and attacking with energy off the bench. That 17-point hole? Gone in a flash.

“That wasn’t luck—Brunson owned the moment and the Garden knew it.”

Brunson’s dagger and the bench that changed the game

When the game tightened, Brunson took the steering wheel. His go-ahead 3 with 1:05 left was the calm, clean look every coach draws up and every star wants. It capped a late 13-2 Knicks sprint in which Brunson, Kolek, and Clarkson all hit threes to shred what had been a 12-point Cleveland lead down to 111-110—and then beyond.

Clarkson’s 25 points off the bench were vital shot creation when the Knicks were hunting momentum. Kolek, a reserve guard who played with poise beyond his years, stacked 16 points with nine assists and made the play that had the building shaking: a late block on Mitchell that was first called a foul, then overturned to a clean block after review. The call gave New York a huge emotional lift and a key extra stop in winning time.

“Kolek looks like he belongs; nine dimes on Christmas is no fluke.”

Robinson’s 13 rebounds kept possessions alive and closed them on the other end. In a tight two-point game, those extra chances matter. Add in Brunson’s steady scoring and the hot hands from the arc, and the Knicks had just enough to land the final punch.

Mitchell’s star turn, Garland’s table setting, Mobley’s return

Cleveland did not go quietly. Mitchell was brilliant with 34 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, manipulating the defense and getting downhill late. Darius Garland added 20 points and 10 assists, mixing drives with quick-hit passes that kept the Cavs organized.

There was also welcome news for Cleveland: Evan Mobley returned from a strained left calf after missing five games and produced 14 points and nine rebounds. His presence mattered at both ends, especially in the third quarter surge. In another night, those performances would have been enough.

“If you’re the Cavs, how do you blow a 17-point lead with Mitchell cooking?”

Numbers that tell the story

The quarter-by-quarter math shows the whiplash. Cleveland went 38-20-38-28 for 124. New York answered 23-37-24-42 for 126. The Knicks’ 42-point fourth was the difference, a blend of pace, spacing, and shot making under the brightest lights of the day.

For New York, Brunson’s 34 points set the tone, with Clarkson’s 25 and Kolek’s 16 and nine dimes pushing the score over the line. Robinson’s 13 rebounds gave the Knicks the extra possessions they needed to fuel the comeback.

Why it matters for both teams

At 21-9 after the win, the Knicks not only banked a statement result on a national stage, they also showed depth that travels. When the starters wobbled, the bench lifted the game with energy and decision-making. That balance is the mark of a team built for the long haul.

For Cleveland, now 17-15, the film will sting. The Cavs controlled long stretches and got star-level nights from Mitchell and strong playmaking from Garland. But late-game execution and a few key calls—and reviews—went against them. The lesson is clear: in tight games at the Garden, every possession is a test.

The bottom line

On Christmas Day, the Knicks found poise and punch when it mattered most. Brunson hit the dagger. Clarkson and Kolek lit the spark. The Garden roared. The Cavs will know they let one slip; the Knicks will remember how it felt to take one back.

These are the games that shape confidence and standings. If New York keeps getting this kind of lift from its reserves alongside Brunson’s steady star turn, nights like this will not be rare. And if Cleveland turns late-game edges into finishes, there’s still time to turn the sting of this loss into fuel.