The Boston Celtics suffered a shock defeat in opposition to the New York Knicks whereas the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been crushed by the Denver Nuggets within the first video games of their Convention play-off semi-finals.
The Celtics, the reigning champions, have been on the unsuitable finish of an 108-105 additional time defeat at residence within the opening match of their Japanese Convention best-of-seven sequence.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby every scored 29 factors for the Knicks, who fought again from being 20 factors behind in the course of the third quarter.
“This group has fought all 12 months, and been a reasonably good street group,” stated Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.
“It is one sport. There’s numerous emotional highs and lows within the play-offs, however it doesn’t matter what occurs you need to maintain transferring ahead.”
Brunson missed a lay-up with three seconds left in regulation whereas Jayson Tatum, who was the joint-top scorer for the Celtics with 23 factors, missed a long-range effort on the buzzer with the rating at 100-100 earlier than the Knicks sealed the win in additional time.
“We left a few of their good shooters open,” stated Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “There’s element stuff that now we have to be higher at.”
Sport two within the sequence can be performed at 19:00 native time (00:00 Thursday BST) in Boston on Wednesday.
The Thunder, who completed high of the Western Convention, have been crushed 121-119 by a visiting Nuggets facet impressed by Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.
Jokic registered 42 factors, 22 rebounds and 6 assists for the Nuggets, whereas Gordon – after Chet Holmgren missed two free throws for Thunder – went up the opposite finish and scored a game-winning three-pointer within the closing seconds.
Gordon completed with 22 factors and 14 rebounds.
Denver have been 13 factors behind at one stage of the fourth quarter however ended it with a 19-6 run to go 1-0 up within the sequence.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander high scored for Thunder as he tallied 33 factors,10 rebounds and eight assists.
“I did not suppose our execution was as clear as it may be,” stated Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “However we’ll be taught from it. It is a sequence.”
Sport two of the sequence will happen at 21:30 native time (03:30 Thursday BST) in Oklahoma on Wednesday.
