Thunder Kick Off Title Defense with Resounding Victory in NBA Playoffs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 25 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Phoenix Suns 119-84 in the opening game of their first-round Western Conference playoff series on Sunday. Despite making only five of 18 field goals, Gilgeous-Alexander excelled at the free-throw line, converting 15 of 17 attempts before sitting out the fourth quarter. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren contributed 22 and 16 points, respectively, for the top-seeded Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday. Devin Booker scored 23 points and Dillon Brooks added 18 for the Suns, who struggled with a 34.9% field goal percentage. The Suns initially took a 5-0 lead, but the Thunder quickly found their rhythm. Following a flagrant-one foul called on Brooks for hitting Holmgren in the face, the Thunder embarked on a 12-2 surge to claim a 24-14 lead. As the first quarter drew to a close, Jaylin Williams launched a pass nearly the length of the court, which Holmgren caught with his back to the basket, took one dribble, and then turned to sink a three-pointer as time expired, putting the Thunder up 35-20. The Thunder extended their advantage to 65-44 at halftime, with Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively, by the break. Gilgeous-Alexander's three-point play late in the third quarter pushed the Thunder's lead to 90-63, and they entered the fourth quarter with a 97-66 edge. In another playoff matchup, Jayson Tatum made a strong return from injury, scoring 25 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out seven assists as the Boston Celtics routed the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Jaylen Brown added 26 points, and Neemias Queta contributed 13 for the second-seeded Celtics. Tatum, playing in just his 17th game this season following surgery to repair his Achilles tendon, scored 21 points in the first half. The Celtics never trailed, building a 35-point lead, and coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players. The Celtics connected on 16 three-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 scored 21 points and had eight assists for the 76ers, who were without Joel Embiid as he continues to recover from an appendectomy on April 9. Paul George and V.J. Edgecombe added 17 and 13 points, respectively, for Philadelphia, which struggled with a 4-of-23 performance from three-point range. The Celtics' defense contested 12 of Maxey's 14 shot attempts in the first half, limiting him to 8 of 20 from the field. Philadelphia's 64-46 halftime 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 facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ from 11pm on Monday evening.