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What. A. Night.
A duo of historic Game 1s culminated in a single decisive moment…
…and concluded like this:
**5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🏀**
May 6, 2025
**Road Warriors:** Away teams have shot out to a 3-0 lead as the Knicks and Nuggets both make headlines with remarkable comebacks.
**Overtime Drama:** NY mounts a comeback from 20 points behind against Boston, capped off by Mikal Bridges’ crucial steal that clinches victory.
**The Joker Shines:** Nikola Jokić delivers a legendary 40-point, 20-rebound performance, propelling Denver past top-seeded OKC.
**Timberwolves vs. Warriors:** All respect and rivalry between Ant and Steph in Game 1 of the Wolves-Dubs series (9:30 ET, TNT).
**Pacers vs. Cavaliers:** With a 1-0 series lead, the Pacers aim to maintain their edge in Cleveland (7 ET, TNT).
**BUT FIRST … ⏰**
Recap of yesterday’s results & a preview for today’s matchups…
This evening’s TNT doubleheader highlights four superstar guards with significant stakes — Donovan Mitchell’s Cavaliers squaring off against Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers in the opener (7 ET), followed by Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves taking on Stephen Curry’s Warriors in the nightcap (9:30 ET).
1. **TWO MEMORABLE ROAD COMEBACKS MAKE FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT IN THE NBA**
Maddie Meyer & Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
“It’s the playoffs — you’re only afforded a limited number of opportunities.”
“We have our shot — tonight! Focus on the present… we will not let go.”
Nuggets coach David Adelman summarized the remarkable events of the opening night of the semifinals series between the Knicks and Celtics, as well as the Nuggets and Thunder with his postgame remarks.
Monday’s games demonstrated it’s not over until the final buzzer.
With road teams starting the Conference Semis at 3-0, the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets made waves with impressive comebacks in hostile environments, winning Game 1 against their higher-seeded rivals, the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Last night marked a first in the play-by-play era (1997-98) as two road teams won Game 1 of a semifinal series, overcoming deficits of 10 or more points.
After trailing by 20 against Boston, the Knicks ignited a defense-fueled comeback, limiting the Celtics to a dismal 35.1 FG% — their lowest playoff performance since 2022 — and a mere 29.1% in the second half.
Maddie Meyer & Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics managed to shoot only 25% from beyond the arc, while the Knicks significantly improved to 45.9%.
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Facing an 11-point deficit with just over 4 minutes left, the Nuggets surged ahead with a powerful offensive display, highlighted by Aaron Gordon’s second game-winner in the playoffs within ten days.
Denver erupted for 36 points in the fourth quarter, closing out the game with a decisive 15-4 run. Nikola Jokić showcased an extraordinary performance (more details in Section 3), scoring 18 points in the final period.
Teams that seize Game 1 in a best-of-seven series typically prevail 75.2% of the time, placing New York and Denver in an advantageous position as they pounce on road victories.
2. **KNICKS TRIUMPH IN OVERTIME, CLAIM GAME 1**
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
The Knicks suffered a sweep against the reigning champion Boston Celtics during the regular season, losing by an average of 16.3 points.
They found themselves down by 16 at halftime and trailed by as much as 20 in the third quarter.
But they rose to the occasion on Monday night, demonstrating the clutch performance they’ve shown all season long.
Knicks 108, Celtics 105 (OT): The Knicks displayed incredible resilience, overcoming a 20-point deficit and securing home-court advantage with a gritty performance on the road. |Recap| 20-pt Comeback
This marked their fourth clutch win of the playoffs, the most in the league.
Nathaniel S. ButlerNBAE via Getty Images
With the score tied at 100 and time running down in regulation, both Jayson Tatum and Brunson had the opportunity to tilt the game in their favor. Tatum missed a pivotal step-back three, while Brunson’s floater ricocheted off the rim.
Then, the Knicks’ supporting players took charge.
The wings dominated in overtime, and Boston never regained a lead during the extra period.
“We told each other to keep believing and keep fighting,” said Brunson. “There wasn’t going to be a 20-point shot… we just kept chipping away.”
**What’s Next:** The Celtics and Knicks will face off for Game 2 (7 ET, TNT) on Wednesday, aiming to regain momentum before heading to Madison Square Garden.
3. **JOKIC’S EXCELLENCE GUIDES NUGGETS TO VICTORY ON THE ROAD**
Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokić delivered one of the finest performances of his career on Monday night, setting the stage for another game-winning moment from Aaron Gordon.
Having just secured a Game 7 victory on Saturday, the team traveled to meet the top squad in the West just 48 hours later.
But when called upon, Jokić rose to the occasion and showcased his dominance.
The Joker (42 PTS, 22 REB, 6 AST) became the fifth player in playoff history to achieve a 40-point, 20-rebound, 5-assist game, joining the ranks of legends like Wilt Chamberlain (twice), Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shaquille O’Neal. He also became the first to record two blocks in a playoff game since the 1973-74 season.
Nuggets 121, Thunder 119: Jokić’s performance, which included an 18-point fourth quarter to fuel Denver’s comeback, surpassed the tough Oklahoma City Thunder defense and secured home-court advantage for the Nuggets. |Recap| 5 Takeaways
Jamal Murray (21 PTS, 6 AST, 6 REB) heaped praise on his teammates after the game, celebrating Gordon’s clutch performance (22 PTS, 14 REB).
“We’ve had that type of resilience for years,” Murray reflected. “What a freaking shot by AG.”
Russell Westbrook — “a Hall of Famer passer,” as Gordon described him — contributed 18 points off the bench. Christian Braun (11 PTS, 13 REB) also made his presence felt with a double-double.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST) led the Thunder in scoring, supported by a strong outing from Alex Caruso (20 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 5 STL).
The Thunder held a 14-point lead during the match but couldn’t secure the win, with a second-half shooting performance at just 38% as a team.
“We’re about to find out what we’re really made of,” SGA stated after the game. “This game mirrors life. It’s about how you bounce back from setbacks.”
**What’s Next:** The Thunder will aim to reclaim home-court advantage on Wednesday (9:30 ET, TNT) and avoid suffering back-to-back losses for only the third time this season.
4. **CURRY & EDWARDS STAR IN WARRIORS-WOLVES SHOWDOWN**
The Warriors are no strangers to this situation.
Tonight marks only the third instance in NBA history of a 7-seed facing a 6-seed in the playoffs — an occasion the Dubs are experiencing for a second time.
In 2023, the 6-seed Warriors matched up against 7-seed Lakers and the notorious LeBron James, a rival they battled in four consecutive Finals from 2015-18. The Lakers eliminated the Warriors in the West Semis – the only occasion in the last decade that Golden State made the playoffs and did not advance to the Finals.
In 2025, the 7-seed Warriors are set to compete against one of the league’s rising stars, Anthony Edwards, and the 6-seed Timberwolves — a team they have yet to encounter in the playoffs — with Game 1 scheduled for tonight (9:30 ET, TNT).
At the center of this matchup are two of the league’s most exciting players: Edwards and Stephen Curry, who have developed a strong rapport over the years.
Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images
The two All-Star guards will spearhead their teams’ offensive efforts throughout the series.
The Warriors concluded the regular season series 3-1 in their favor, with two of those victories coming on the road. All encounters occurred prior to Golden State acquiring Jimmy Butler III.
While Ant and Steph are capable of dazzling performances, elite defensive plays will be paramount in this series.
5. **PACERS AIM TO CAPITALIZE ON MOMENTUM IN GAME 2 AGAINST CAVS**
The Pacers excelled under pressure on Sunday night, a trend they have maintained for several months.
Trailing 102-101 with seven minutes left in the final quarter of Game 1, the visitors surged with a 19-11 run, astonishing a Cleveland crowd that had only witnessed seven losses all season.
“The key word was aggression,” emphasized Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “We need to keep our focus on attack mode to defeat this team.”
Now, Indiana heads into tonight’s Game 2 (7 ET, TNT) at Rocket Arena in their Eastern Conference Semifinals showdown with Cleveland, holding a 1-0 lead. The Pacers have amassed a 13-4 record in clutch situations since March 1st, representing the most wins in the league during that span.
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
However, it takes a concerted team effort to overcome the Cavaliers, and the Pacers relied on precisely that to hand the East’s top seed its first playoff defeat.
Cleveland struggled to find their rhythm from beyond the arc, hitting fewer than 10 three-pointers for the first time all season. Still, they fought hard, despite a dismal 23.6% shooting percentage from long range.
“The silver lining is I felt we adapted to their style of play and performed much better in the second half,” Atkinson reflected. “We’ll figure out the three-point shooting.”
