Both conference-finals openers go to overtime for first time in NBA history

Sportsnet reported on May 21 that both NBA conference-finals openers went to overtime for the first time in league history. The Eastern Conference finals began May 19 with New York beating Cleveland 115-104 in overtime at Madison Square Garden, according to NBA.com. The Western Conference finals followed with San Antonio beating Oklahoma City 122-115 in double overtime on May 18, NBA.com and Basketball-Reference show. Both games were tied 101-101 at the end of regulation, according to Sportsnet and NBC New York. ### Which two games made the history? The Knicks opened the East finals by erasing a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit before beating the Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime on May 19. NBA.com said New York closed on a 44-11 run, and Sporting News said Jalen Brunson scored 38 points. The Spurs opened the West finals by beating the defending champion Thunder 122-115 in double overtime in Oklahoma City on May 18. (sportsnet.ca) Basketball-Reference listed the final as a 122-115 San Antonio win, and NBA.com’s recap said Victor Wembanyama lifted the Spurs in an “instant classic.” ### What made the twin overtimes so unusual? (nba.com) Sportsnet said it was the first time both Game 1s in the conference finals reached overtime in the same postseason. NBC New York, citing the same pair of games, also noted that both contests were tied 101-101 after regulation. Yahoo Sports also described the start of the conference finals as a historic milestone, saying both openers required overtime. (basketball-reference.com) That framing matched the official results from NBA.com for the Knicks-Cavaliers game and the recorded box score for Spurs-Thunder. ### Who drove the two comebacks and finishes? Jalen Brunson led New York with 38 points in the East opener, Sporting News reported. (sportsnet.ca) NBA.com said the Knicks rallied from 22 down late, and the Associated Press described the result as both a comeback by New York and a collapse by Cleveland. (sports.yahoo.com) Victor Wembanyama delivered 41 points and 24 rebounds in San Antonio’s Game 1 win, according to BVM Sports’ summary of the Sportsnet report and other game coverage. USA Today’s preview of the opener also said Wembanyama had a “monster game” as the Spurs took the first game of the series. ### Did the two games really end regulation on the same score? (sportingnews.com) NBC New York said both games reached overtime after finishing regulation tied 101-101. Sportsnet’s item on the milestone likewise linked the two openers through that identical end-of-regulation score line. That detail gave the two games an added symmetry: New York needed one extra period to separate from Cleveland, while San Antonio needed two to put away Oklahoma City. (bvmsports.com) The final margins were 11 points for the Knicks and seven for the Spurs. ### What came next in the two series? NBA.com listed Game 2 of Cavaliers-Knicks for May 21 at 8 p.m. ET after New York took the opener. (nbcnewyork.com) ABC7 New York’s conference-finals roundup showed the Western series tied 1-1 after Oklahoma City answered in Game 2, 122-113. The conference finals schedule remained active on May 21, with New York trying to extend its lead over Cleveland and San Antonio and Oklahoma City moving on from a split in the West. (nba.com) NBA.com’s 2026 playoffs page carried the bracket and series updates. (nba.com)