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Do Cavaliers fans have Dave Portnoy to blame for their team’s implosion in the fourth quarter as the Knicks defeated Cleveland in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals?
Cleveland held an extensive lead when the Barstool Sports founder seemed to tempt fate, posting a sarcastic message on X, telling Knicks fans to “keep your head up.”
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“As somebody who won a ton of Eastern Conference finals I want to tell Knicks fans not to give up,” wrote Portnoy, who is a well-known Celtics fan. “That looked like a rust game to me. Plus probably over confident after beating a pathetic Sixers team. Long series. Keep your head up. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. You guys aren’t that good but you can still win this thing. Chin up.”
Knicks fans react outside Madison Square Garden as they watch a televised broadcast of Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. James Keivom for NY Post
The Knicks proceeded to go on a stunning run in the final quarter, erasing a 22-point deficit in the final eight minutes before pulling away in overtime for a 115-104 win.
Portnoy later followed up the post with one noting that the Knicks had gone on an 18-1 run “since this tweet by the way.”
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“I’d also like to point that many people would delete the below tweet, but that is not my style. I will own it. Leaders lead. Credit to me for being accountable,” Portnoy later wrote on X.
Dave Portnoy started celebrating the Knicks’ demise in Game 1 a little too early. Dave Portnoy/X
The Knicks’ miracle kicked off the team’s second consecutive trip to the conference finals after not having reached the series since 2000.
Dating back to the 1996-97 season, the Knicks were 0-277 when they trailed by at least 22 points in the fourth quarter of a regular season or playoff game prior to Tuesday’s Game 1 win.
Jalen Brunson drives to the basket during the Knicks’ comeback win against the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Jalen Brunson finished the game with 38 points as he helped lift the Knicks to victory and a 1-0 series…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dave-portnoy-puts-jinx-cavaliers-035351302.html
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Publish date : 2026-05-20 03:53:00
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