NBA Playoffs: Celtics march on, Pacers eliminate Bucks, Nuggets take lead, Pistons survive thriller

Tuesday night delivered a packed slate of drama in the NBA Playoffs First Round, where teams battle in best-of-seven series with the aim of advancing to the Conference Semifinals. The night saw two Eastern Conference teams punch their tickets to the next round, while pivotal matchups in both conferences tightened or extended series leads, setting the stage for critical upcoming games.

(4) Indiana Pacers-Milwaukee Bucks (1): 119-118 (OT)

In a thrilling Eastern Conference clash that went down to the wire and into overtime, the Indiana Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks with a dramatic 119-118 victory in Game 5, securing the series 4-1. The game's end was filled with tension, as Indiana forced two turnovers in the final 17 seconds of overtime. The decisive moment came with just 1.3 seconds left when Tyrese Haliburton drove past Giannis Antetokounmpo to sink the go-ahead layup. The Pacers finished the game on a remarkable 8-0 run over the last 40 seconds of OT. Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points and 10 assists, maintaining his perfect 9-0 record in home playoff games.

It was a chippy series that fittingly concluded with a post-game skirmish. For the short-handed Bucks, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a monumental effort with 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Gary Trent Jr. added 33 points with eight 3-pointers. However, Trent Jr. was involved in the two crucial late overtime turnovers that cost Milwaukee. Myles Turner contributed 21 points and nine rebounds for Indiana, Aaron Nesmith had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Andrew Nembhard Jr. scored 15, including a key three to start the final run.

(4) Boston Celtics-Orlando Magic (1): 120-89

The Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA champions, became the third team after Cavaliers and Pacers in Eastern Conference to advance, closing out their series against the Orlando Magic with a dominant 120-89 victory in Game 5. This secured a 4-1 series win for Boston, sending them to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jayson Tatum was a key force for the Celtics, finishing with 35 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. A turning point came early in the third quarter when Magic star Paolo Banchero picked up his fourth and quickly his fifth foul within moments of each other.

With Banchero sidelined, the Celtics unleashed a massive 31-9 run to build an insurmountable lead. Despite being the NBA's most prolific three-point shooting team, Boston uncharacteristically went the entire first half without a made three, trailing by nine at halftime, but found their rhythm in the second half. Jaylen Brown added 23 points for the Celtics. The Magic, led by Franz Wagner's 25 points and Banchero's 19, have not won a playoff series since 2010.

(3) Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers (2): 131-115

In the Western Conference, the 2023 NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, took a crucial 3-2 lead in their series against the Los Angeles Clippers with a commanding 131-115 win in Game 5. Jamal Murray delivered an explosive offensive performance, erupting for 43 points to lead the Nuggets. Russell Westbrook also made a significant impact in his return from a foot injury, scoring 21 points for Denver. Nikola Jokic recorded his 21st career playoff triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Aaron Gordon, the hero of Game 4, added 23 points.

Denver built a large lead, similar to Game 4, but this time successfully fended off a Clippers' fourth-quarter run, responding with an 11-0 surge of their own to seal the win. Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with a playoff career-high 27 points, supported by Kawhi Leonard's 20 and Bogdan Bogdanovic's 18. The series now shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Wednesday, May 1st, where the Nuggets have a chance to advance to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

(3) New York Knicks-Detroit Pistons (2): 103-106

Finally, in another Eastern Conference battle, the Detroit Pistons kept their season alive by edging the New York Knicks 106-103 in Game 5. This win narrowed the Knicks' series lead to 3-2. Cade Cunningham starred for the Pistons, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Ausar Thompson added 22 points and Tobias Harris had 17 as Detroit secured their first playoff win since 2019. The Pistons will host Game 6 on Wednesday, May 1st, hoping to force a decisive Game 7 back in New York on Saturday. Detroit previously ended their NBA-record 15-game postseason losing streak in Game 2 in New York and have performed well at Madison Square Garden this series despite a poor home record this season.

Key Knicks players included OG Anunoby (19 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (17), and Mikal Bridges (17), though Jalen Brunson had his worst game of the postseason with 16 points on poor shooting. A late injury moment for Brunson and Josh Hart briefly impacted the Knicks, and despite a late three from Anunoby cutting the deficit, Cunningham sealed the win with free throws. The Pistons' survival ensures the Eastern Conference semi-finalist from this series is yet to be decided.