Broadway Grit and Mile-High Magic: Knicks and Nuggets Rewrite Playoff Scripts with Stunning Game 1 Comebacks

On May 5, 2025, the NBA playoffs delivered a night of unforgettable drama as both the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets overcame significant deficits on the road to seize Game 1 victories in their respective conference semifinals.

In Boston, the Knicks faced a daunting 20-point third-quarter deficit against the reigning champion Celtics. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each poured in 29 points, spearheading a relentless comeback. The game culminated in overtime, where Mikal Bridges’ crucial steal from Jaylen Brown in the final seconds sealed a 108–105 victory for New York .

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, the Nuggets trailed the top-seeded Thunder by 14 points in the second half. Nikola Jokić delivered a masterclass performance with 42 points and 22 rebounds, while Aaron Gordon’s clutch three-pointer with just three seconds remaining propelled Denver to a 121–119 win  .

These remarkable comebacks mark the first time in NBA playoff history that two lower-seeded teams overcame double-digit halftime deficits on the road on the same day, dramatically shifting the momentum in both series  .