The Oklahoma City Thunder successfully began their title defense with a commanding 119-84 win over the Phoenix Suns in the opening game of their Western Conference playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 25 points, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren contributed 22 and 16 points, respectively. The Thunder's dominant performance set the tone for the series, with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, other notable playoff games saw the Boston Celtics overwhelm the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91, and the San Antonio Spurs defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98, with Victor Wembanyama making a record-breaking playoff debut with 35 points.