Knicks Comeback Stuns Celtics In Semi-final Opener

The Boston Celtics suffered a daze conclusion by nan New York Knicks while nan Oklahoma City Thunder were beaten by nan Denver Nuggets successful nan first games of their Conference play-off semi-finals.

The Celtics, nan reigning champions, were connected nan incorrect extremity of an 108-105 overtime conclusion astatine location successful nan opening lucifer of their Eastern Conference best-of-seven series.

Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 29 points for nan Knicks, who came backmost from being 20 points down during nan 3rd quarter.

"This squad has fought each year, and been a beautiful bully roadworthy team," said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.

"It's 1 game. There's a batch of affectional highs and lows successful nan play-offs, but nary matter what happens you person to support moving forward."

Brunson missed a lay-up pinch 3 seconds near successful regularisation while Jayson Tatum, who was nan joint-top scorer for nan Celtics pinch 23 points, missed a long-range effort astatine nan buzzer pinch nan people astatine 100-100 earlier nan Knicks sealed nan triumph successful overtime.

"We near immoderate of their bully shooters open," said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. "There's item worldly that we person to beryllium amended at."

Game 2 successful nan bid will beryllium played astatine 19:00 section clip [00:00 Thursday BST] successful Boston connected Wednesday.

The Thunder, who vanished apical of nan Western Conference, were beaten 121-119 by a visiting Nuggets broadside inspired by Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.

Jokic registered 42 points, 22 rebounds and six assists for nan Nuggets, while Gordon - aft Chet Holmgren missed 2 free throws for nan Thunder - went up nan different extremity and scored a game-winning three-pointer successful nan closing seconds.

Gordon vanished pinch 22 points and 14 rebounds.

Denver were 13 points down astatine 1 shape of nan 4th fourth but ended it pinch a 19-6 tally to spell 1-0 up successful nan series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander apical scored for Thunder arsenic he tallied 33 points,10 rebounds and 8 assists.

"I didn't deliberation our execution was arsenic cleanable arsenic it tin be," said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. "But we'll study from it. It's a series."

Game 2 of nan bid will return spot astatine 21:30 section clip [03:30 Thursday BST] successful Oklahoma connected Wednesday.