The NBA semi-finals began with a bang as the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets secured thrilling victories in their respective series openers.

Knicks vs Celtics: A Game of Grit and Determination

The Boston Celtics, reigning champions, faced a shocking 108-105 overtime defeat at home against the New York Knicks. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, each scoring 29 points, staged a remarkable comeback after trailing by 20 points in the third quarter. Brunson's clutch performance, scoring 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, was pivotal in the Knicks' victory.

Celtics' Jayson Tatum, who also scored 23 points, missed a crucial long-range shot at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime where the Knicks sealed the win. "This team has fought all year, and been a pretty good road team," said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. "It's one game. There's a lot of emotional highs and lows in the play-offs, but no matter what happens you have to keep moving forward."

Nuggets vs Thunder: A Nail-Biting Finish

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished top of the conference, were narrowly defeated 121-119 by the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic was the standout performer, registering 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists. Aaron Gordon, who scored 22 points and 14 rebounds, hit a game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds after Chet Holmgren missed two free throws for the Thunder.

Denver, trailing by 13 points in the fourth quarter, ended the game with a 19-6 run to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored for the Thunder with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. "I didn't think our execution was as clean as it can be," said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. "But we'll learn from it. It's a series."

Looking Ahead

Game two in both series will be played on Wednesday, with the Celtics hosting the Knicks at 19:00 local time and the Thunder facing the Nuggets at 21:30 local time. Fans can expect more high-octane action as these teams battle for a spot in the conference finals.