3 of 3 Big Upsets As The NBA “Quarters” Commenced

I still doubt it is “curtains” for the three, higher ranked, series and game big favorites, who/whom in a seemingly unprecedented result, all lost their quarterfinal series opening games, however those victories by the Indiana Pacers at top East seed, Cleveland (Cavaliers), New York Knicks at defending champion Boston (Celtics) and Denver Nuggets at top ranked (68-14) in the “reg,” Oklahoma City (Thunder) moved some needles of perception and finance.

This is the 16th ‘offs clash between the only two original NBA/BBA franchises that have been in one city for all 79 years of play, (the Warriors once in Philadelphia seek to be the 4th underdog 2025 “quarters” opener road winners tonight at Minnesota vs the Timberwolves) and 11th since the Celts’ dynasty began in ’57 and 12 years passed between the team’s ‘offs meeting 5 straight seasons (’51-’55) and their next in ’67.

Boston leads the all-time series just (8-7) (3-2) pre ’57 with those #’s 9 and 11 showing as 9 of the 11 ‘offs meetings between the teams have opened in “Beantown,” with 8 resulting in Celtics victories. The former, but not the latter, in game 1 last night, a 3 points overtime win for the Knicks.

Elsewhere last night, Aaron Gordon who stuffed in the winning hoop just before time expired in the ’23 season champion Nuggets’ series squaring, #4 win vs the L.A. Clippers in the prelims, “hit”– changing plus 1 Oklahoma City to plus 2 and a Denver win at “Ok.” City, after Chet Holmgren, truly inexcusably missed a pair of free throws, to complete an at least 64 to 1 parlay with the three road teams, the Pacers, Knicks and Nuggets all scoring more points than their opponent in games 1/”Qtrs.”

Emmette Bryant, 86 years old, pictured below, contributed mightily to the Celtics’ incredible 11th title in 13 seasons in ’69, notably scoring 20 points in the title clinching winner take all 7th at L.A. and playing a standout opening game, at New York vs the Knicks, in the “semis.”

Only then and in 2013, the latter the only post ’55 series between the “originals” in which the Knicks won a home opening game, that opened in New York.