The Oklahoma City Thunder launched their title defense with a resounding 119-84 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 25 points, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren added 22 and 16 points respectively.
The top-seeded Thunder will host Game 2 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in their Eastern Conference series, with Jayson Tatum scoring 25 points in his first playoff game since rupturing his Achilles tendon last season. The San Antonio Spurs also secured a 111-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, thanks to a record-breaking 35-point debut from Victor Wembanyama.