NBA both Game 1s went to OT

The NBA’s conference finals opened with two overtime games for the first time, with the New York Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime on May 19 and the San Antonio Spurs beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime on May 18. NBA.com’s game summaries show both games were tied 101-101 at the end of regulation, giving the league an unusual pair of openers on back-to-back nights. Sportsnet and NBA.com both described the sequence as a first for the conference finals. ### How unusual was this start to the conference finals? Sportsnet reported that both Game 1s going to overtime had never happened before in the NBA’s conference finals. NBC New York noted another odd detail: both games reached overtime with identical 101-101 regulation scores. That gave the league three extra periods across two series before either matchup had even reached Game 2. (nba.com) The NBA’s official playoff schedule lists the conference finals as beginning on May 19-20, but the Western opener was played on May 18 local date in Oklahoma City, according to NBA.com’s game page. The Eastern opener was played May 19 at Madison Square Garden. ### How did the Knicks get there after trailing so badly? The Knicks trailed by 22 points in the fourth quarter before rallying to beat Cleveland 115-104 in overtime at Madison Square Garden on May 19. (sportsnet.ca) NBA.com’s recap called it a “miraculous 22-point comeback,” and its takeaways piece said it was the largest comeback in a conference finals game since 1997. (nba.com) Jalen Brunson led New York, and NBA.com listed Donovan Mitchell with 29 points for Cleveland in the loss. Sportsnet said the Cavaliers were in control before New York closed with a 44-11 run spanning the end of regulation and overtime. ### What decided Spurs-Thunder in Oklahoma City? Victor Wembanyama carried San Antonio to a 122-115 win over Oklahoma City in double overtime in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. (nba.com) NBA.com’s recap said Wembanyama hit a deep 3-pointer with 27 seconds left in the first overtime to tie the score at 108-108, extending the game again after the Thunder appeared to have momentum. (nba.com) The game was played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, and NBA.com’s box score shows San Antonio took a 1-0 series lead. NBA.com later said the thriller delivered the highest average viewership for a Western Conference finals Game 1. ### Who were the central players in each opener? Jalen Brunson was the central figure in New York’s comeback, according to NBA.com’s takeaways from Knicks-Cavaliers. (nba.com) OG Anunoby also drew attention in postgame coverage as one of the Knicks’ key contributors, according to reporting cited in the briefing. Victor Wembanyama was the defining player in the West opener. NBA.com said the Spurs star delivered a historic performance in his first conference finals game, with the late tying 3-pointer becoming the signature shot of the night. (nba.com) ### What comes next in the two series? Game 2 of Cavaliers-Knicks is scheduled for May 21 at Madison Square Garden, according to NBA.com and other playoff schedule listings. (nba.com) Game 2 of Spurs-Thunder was scheduled for May 20 in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder responded by evening the series 1-1, NBA.com reported. The NBA’s official playoff schedule says the Finals are set to begin on June 3. Until then, the next immediate dates are the remaining conference finals games between Cleveland and New York in the East, and San Antonio and Oklahoma City in the West. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) (nba.com 3)