In a historic turn of events, all four visiting teams secured victories in Game 1 of the NBA Conference Semifinals, marking the first time in league history that this has occurred.
Eastern Conference: Knicks and Pacers Take Early Leads
New York Knicks 108, Boston Celtics 105 (OT)
The Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit to edge out the Celtics in a thrilling overtime finish. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each contributed 29 points, while Mikal Bridges made crucial steals in the extra period to seal the win. Despite a combined 46 points from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics struggled with their shooting, setting an NBA playoff record by missing 45 three-pointers.
Indiana Pacers 121, Cleveland Cavaliers 112
The Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cavaliers with a balanced offensive attack. Andrew Nembhard led with 23 points, and Tyrese Haliburton added 22 points and 13 assists. Despite a playoff-high 33 points from Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers couldn’t overcome the Pacers’ depth.
Western Conference: Nuggets and Warriors Steal Homecourt Advantage
Denver Nuggets 121, Oklahoma City Thunder 119
Nikola Jokić delivered a dominant performance with 42 points and 22 rebounds, leading the Nuggets to a narrow victory over the Thunder. Aaron Gordon’s game-winning three-pointer with four seconds left capped Denver’s comeback from a second-half deficit.
Golden State Warriors 99, Minnesota Timberwolves 88
Despite the absence of injured star Stephen Curry, the Warriors secured a solid road win. Buddy Hield led the scoring with 24 points, supported by Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green’s contributions. The Timberwolves couldn’t capitalize on their home-court advantage, falling to the Warriors.
Upcoming Games:
- New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 4:00 PM PDT - Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 6:30 PM PDT
As the series progress, these early road victories set the stage for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable playoff season.
