The NBA quarter-finals delivered two stunning upsets on May 5-6, with both the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets claiming crucial road victories to take early series leads.
In a dramatic Eastern Conference clash, the New York Knicks orchestrated a remarkable comeback against the Boston Celtics. After trailing by 20 points, the Knicks rallied in the second half before securing a 108-105 overtime victory. British forward OG Anunoby emerged as the hero for New York, tying teammate Jalen Brunson with a game-high 29 points. Despite strong performances from Boston's Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who contributed 23 points each, with Tatum adding 16 rebounds, the Celtics couldn't maintain their advantage when it mattered most.
The Western Conference matchup provided equal excitement as the Denver Nuggets edged the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in another nail-biter. Serbian center Nikola Jokić dominated proceedings with an extraordinary stat line of 42 points and 22 rebounds. The defending champions displayed impressive resilience, overturning a first-half deficit with a strong showing after the break. Aaron Gordon supported Jokić admirably with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jamal Murray added 21 points. For Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in a valiant effort.
According to performance analysis from Statbet, Jokić's 42-point, 22-rebound masterclass ranks among the most dominant playoff performances this season, showcasing why the Nuggets remain serious contenders to repeat as champions.
Both New York and Denver now hold 1-0 advantages in their respective series, putting immediate pressure on Boston and Oklahoma City to respond in Game 2.
