The first round of the NBA playoffs are underway, with an overtime Game 1 thriller between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers already capturing fans’ admiration. Denver notched its eighth 15-point playoff comeback since 2019 to overrun LA 112-110 on its home floor, with a veteran guard stepping up multiple times in key moments. Earlier in Indiana, the Pacers breezed past Milwaukee, with the Bucks’ starters largely unable to produce outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s heroics. ESPN on Kayo Sports brings you the best of the NBA Playoffs including every game of the NBA Conference Finals & NBA Finals LIVE | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer > Ferocious Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook hit a go-ahead three-pointer near the end of regulation and came up with a key deflection late in overtime to seal his team’s series-opening win. The 18-year NBA veteran hit a clutch downtown shot with 24.0 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to put Denver up 98-96, before a James Harden floater six seconds later sent the game to an extra period. The 36-year-old finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals and played every minute of the fourth quarter and overtime as the Nuggets outmuscled the visitors in the bonus minutes. “An all-time great that has been doused with consistent criticism in the latter years of his career, has come up with massive plays down the stretch against his former team that he played with in the playoffs just a season ago,” ESPN caller Ryan Ruocco assessed. “He helps you more than he hurts you, that’s why he’s a Hall-of-Fame player,” analyst and former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers added. Then in overtime, with the Nuggets up three but the Clipper a chance to tie, Westbrook got his hand in the passing lane to cause a Harden turnover and ensure the home team walked away with a 1-0 lead in the series. “Absolutely incredible performance from Russell Westbrook. Nothing else to say,” Nuggets writer Matt Brooks stated on X. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was typically instrumental despite significant opposition attention, posting 29 points on 12-24 shooting, 12 assists and nine rebounds. PACERS CRUISE TO GAME 1 VICTORY The Indiana Pacers seized control early and powered to a convincing 117-98 Game 1 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Pascal Siakam scored 25 points to lead six Pacers players to score in double figures as Indiana took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series. Milwaukee’s two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. But the Greek star had woefully little scoring support, the remaining Bucks starters combining for just 14 points. Myles Turner added 19 points, Andrew Nembhard scored 17 and Tyrese Haliburton scored 10 points and handed out 12 assists for the Pacers, who thrilled a 17,000-strong crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and made the most of their opportunity against a Bucks team missing Damian Lillard -- who has been sidelined since he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right calf in March. ESPN reported the nine-time All-Star could be ready to play in Tuesday’s game two or Friday’s game three. In the meantime, the Bucks offense floundered. Antetokounmpo handed out just one assist as his teammates were unable to score. Kyle Kuzma finished with zero points, zero rebounds and zero assists in just under 22 minutes on the floor. Taurean Prince also went scoreless. The Pacers, who beat the Bucks in the first round last season, led by as many as 28 points. The Bucks used a 9-0 run to pull within 12 points midway through the fourth quarter. But they were unable to get the deficit to single digits and a three-pointer by Turner launched a run that saw the Pacers pull away again. The contest was the first of four games on the opening day of first-round play. LeBron James, chasing a fifth title in his 22nd NBA season, caps the action as his Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves. James, 40, is in the playoffs for an 18th time, the Lakers’ title bid enhanced by their stunning February trade for Slovenian star Luka Doncic. Timberwolves star Anthony Davis was looking forward to the chance to take on James. “(James will) probably go down as the greatest player to ever play basketball,” Edwards said. “Trying to put him out of the playoffs under my belt is going to be a tough one.”