Jalen Brunson scored 29 points as the New York Knicks overturned a 20-point deficit to stun the Boston Celtics, 108-105, in overtime in their opening NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series clash yesterday (Philippine time).

Brunson — the 40-point hero of New York’s series-clinching win over Detroit last week — was once again in superb form as the Knicks silenced Boston’s TD Garden with a remarkable second-half fightback.

Brunson’s 29 points included five-of-nine from three-point range, with OG Anunoby also getting hot with 29 points, including six three-pointers.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led Boston’s scoring with 23 points apiece.

Second seed Boston, the reigning NBA champions, looked poised to get the best-of-seven series off to a winning start after pulling into a 72-52 lead early in the third quarter.

But Boston’s double-digit cushion was whittled away after Anunoby and Brunson combined for 21 points in the third quarter as the Celtics scoring dried up.

Al Horford settled Boston’s nerves with a three-pointer to close the quarter that left the Celtics up by nine points at 84-75.

The Knicks opened the fourth quarter, though, with quick three-pointers from Miles McBride and Anunoby either side of a Karl-Anthony Towns layup to close to within one point.

New York pulled level at 86-86 with just under eight minutes left in the quarter before a run of 11 points from Brunson helped New York sweep into a 97-91 lead.

Brunson had a golden chance to win it in regulation with the score tied at 100-100, but missed a layup with three seconds remaining.

Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Towns then took over in overtime to seal a gutsy win for the Knicks.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said lax defense in the second half had cost his team dearly.

Brown, who shot only seven-of-20 from the field and made only one-of-10 attempted three-pointers, said the Celtics would not get hung up on their wayward shooting night as they prepare for Game 2 in Boston on Thursday, May 8 (Philippine time). (Agence France-Presse)