Reigning Champions Thunder Kick Off Playoffs with Dominant Win

The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 25 points, launched their title defense with a resounding 119-84 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. Despite making just five of 18 field goals, Gilgeous-Alexander went 15 of 17 from the foul line before sitting out the fourth quarter. Jalen Williams added 22 points, and Chet Holmgren contributed 16 for the top-seeded Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday. Devin Booker scored 23 points, and Dillon Brooks scored 18 on 6-of-22 shooting for the Suns, who shot 34.9% from the field. The Suns initially took a 5-0 lead, but the Thunder quickly regained their footing. Following a flagrant-one foul called on Brooks for hitting Holmgren in the face, the Thunder embarked on a 12-2 surge to take a 24-14 lead. In the closing seconds of the quarter, Jaylin Williams threw a pass that Holmgren caught with his back to the basket, took one dribble, and then turned to drain a three-pointer as time expired, putting Oklahoma City up 35-20. The Thunder extended their advantage to 65-44 at half-time, with Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively. Gilgeous-Alexander converted a three-point play to push Oklahoma City's lead to 90-63 late in the third quarter, and the Thunder took a 97-66 edge into the fourth. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season, as the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points, and Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics. Tatum scored 21 points in the first half, playing in just his 17th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon. Boston never trailed, building a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players. The Celtics connected on 16 3-pointers, with Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday night in Boston. "That was Celtics basketball," Brown said. "We've been the harder-playing team all year. That can't change now that the playoffs have started." Tyrese Maxey had 21 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid. Paul George scored 17 points, and V.J. Edgecombe added 13. Philadelphia was 4 of 23 from 3-point range. Maxey was hounded by a Celtics defense that contested 12 of his 14 shot attempts in the first half and held him to 8 of 20 from the field. Philadelphia's 64-46 half-time deficit was its largest in a playoff game against Boston since 1982. The 2026 NBA playoffs continue live on Sky Sports, with the Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ from 11pm on Monday evening.