Aaron Gordon’s decisive 3-pointer with just 3.6 seconds left sealed a remarkable comeback for the Denver Nuggets, who defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semi-final series.
The Nuggets, seeded fourth, were trailing by 11 points with less than four and a half minutes to go but managed to outscore the top-seeded Thunder 19-6 to take the lead in this best-of-seven series.
In another thrilling playoff game, the New York Knicks staged a significant comeback against the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference semi-final opener. OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson each scored 29 points, leading the Knicks from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to a stunning 108-105 overtime victory. This win allowed third-seeded New York to overcome the second-seeded Celtics’ home-court advantage.
Nikola Jokic was instrumental in Denver’s rally, scoring 18 of his 42 points in the final quarter while dominating on rebounds. He finished with an impressive 22 rebounds as well. Gordon contributed significantly with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jamal Murray added 21 points to help secure the win. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a strong performance with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists but could not prevent his team from losing their first playoff game this year.
The Thunder seemed poised for victory after Gilgeous-Alexander’s three-pointer gave them a commanding lead of 113-102 with just over four minutes remaining. However, Denver responded with a crucial 12-2 run that brought them back into contention. Jokic played a pivotal role during this stretch, scoring nine points and hitting a three-pointer that narrowed the gap to one point at 115-114 as they entered the final minute.
The Celtics struggled offensively despite attempting an NBA record of 60 three-pointers in a playoff game but only converting on 15 of them. Their shooting woes continued into the late stages as they managed just a field-goal percentage of 35.1%. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led Boston with 23 points each, while Derrick White recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Boston appeared set for victory after ending the first half on a strong note with a lead of 61-45. Their advantage grew further when White hit a three-pointer to extend it to 75-55 midway through the third quarter. However, Anunoby sparked New York’s comeback by hitting consecutive three-pointers that initiated a crucial run for his team.
Decisive Moments in Both Games
As Oklahoma City clung to a narrow lead at 119-118, Chet Holmgren missed two critical free throws with just under ten seconds left. This set up Gordon’s clutch shot that completed Denver’s comeback after Oklahoma City’s last-second desperation attempt failed.
For New York, Anunoby’s three-pointer late in regulation gave them an edge before Boston tied it again through Jrue Holiday’s layup. In overtime, Anunoby converted a three-point play that put New York ahead for good before Mikael Bridges’ subsequent three-pointer extended their lead further.
The Nuggets will aim to maintain momentum when they face Oklahoma City again on Wednesday for Game 2 at home. Meanwhile, New York seeks another win against Boston as their series resumes in Boston on Wednesday night.