NBA Game 1s both go to OT

The NBA’s conference finals opened on May 19 with two overtime games, something the league had not seen before at that stage of the playoffs. The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime in the East, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime in the West. NBA.com’s playoff schedule lists both results and shows New York taking a 1-0 lead while San Antonio’s series moved to 1-1 after Oklahoma City won Game 2 on May 20. ### How unusual was the start to these conference finals? Sportsnet reported that both Game 1s going to overtime marked the first such occurrence in NBA conference finals history. NBC New York, citing Associated Press reporting, said both games also ended regulation tied at 101-101 before the extra periods began. (nba.com) NBA.com’s playoff page described New York’s opener as a “historic comeback” and San Antonio’s win as a double-overtime thriller. The league site also said the Spurs-Thunder opener delivered the highest average viewership for a Game 1 in Western Conference finals history. ### What happened in Knicks-Cavaliers? The Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Cleveland 115-104 at Madison Square Garden on May 19. (sportsnet.ca) NBA.com said New York closed on a 44-11 run, while NBC New York’s AP report said teams leading by 22 or more points in the fourth quarter had been 452-1 this season, including the playoffs, before Cleveland’s collapse made that 452-2. (nba.com) Jalen Brunson drove the comeback late in regulation and overtime. NBC New York quoted Brunson saying, “Found a way. … We got some stops,” and “Kept fighting, kept believing, kept chipping away.” Knicks coach Mike Brown told reporters, “I don’t know if I’ve seen that in a playoff game,” referring to the 44-11 finish. (nba.com) Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters Cleveland “got a little unlucky,” then added that “Brunson obviously took over at the end.” NBC New York said Cleveland had played “great basketball” for three quarters before New York dominated the fourth. ### What happened in Spurs-Thunder? San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 122-115 in double overtime in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. (nbcnewyork.com) NBA.com’s playoff coverage said Victor Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in his conference finals debut, and NBC New York’s AP report called the performance “brilliant.” The Spurs’ win came in Oklahoma City against the defending champions. (nbcnewyork.com) NBA.com later said the game produced record Western Conference finals Game 1 viewership, underscoring how much attention the opener drew. ### Did the scheduling make the milestone easy to miss? The two overtime games happened on separate nights, not as a same-day doubleheader. NBA.com’s official schedule shows Knicks-Cavaliers Game 1 on May 19 and Spurs-Thunder Game 1 also recorded as part of the conference finals opening slate, with Oklahoma City then hosting and winning Game 2 on May 20. (nba.com) That sequence meant the historical note became clearer once both series had opened. Sportsnet and Yahoo both framed the milestone around the opening games of both conference finals, rather than around a single calendar day. ### What comes next in the two series? Thursday, May 21, is the date for Knicks-Cavaliers Game 2 in New York at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, according to NBA.com’s playoff schedule. (nba.com) Friday, May 22, is the date for Thunder-Spurs Game 3 in San Antonio at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock after Oklahoma City evened the West finals at 1-1. (sportsnet.ca)