Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander delivered a 25‑point performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder launched their campaign to defend the NBA championship, crushing the Phoenix Suns 119‑84 in the opening contest of the Western Conference first‑round series on Sunday. The league’s reigning Most Valuable Player was efficient at the free‑throw line, sinking 15 of 17 attempts, though he managed only five makes on 18 field‑goal tries before sitting out the final quarter to preserve his stamina. Supporting the star guard, forward Jalen Williams contributed 22 points, while rookie big man Chet Holmgren added 16, helping the top‑seeded Thunder build a comfortable lead that they never relinquished. The team will host the second game of the series on Wednesday, looking to extend the advantage.
For Phoenix, Devin Booker managed 23 points and Dillon Brooks added 18, but the Suns struggled with shooting, converting just 34.9% of their attempts. The game began with the Suns taking a brief 5‑0 edge, a reflection of the Thunder’s sluggish start after a week of rest. However, the momentum shifted quickly when Brooks was assessed a flagrant‑one foul for striking Holmgren in the face during the first quarter. Oklahoma City responded with a 12‑2 run that vaulted them to a 24‑14 lead.
A highlight of the first period came as Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams launched a long, soaring pass that traveled roughly three‑quarters of the court. Holmgren, positioned with his back to the basket, caught the ball, took a single dribble to his right, and then spun to release a three‑pointer as the quarter expired, pushing the Thunder’s advantage to 35‑20.
By halftime, the Thunder had stretched the gap to 65‑44, with Holmgren tallying 16 points and Gilgeous‑Alexander adding 15. In the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that helped the lead swell to 90‑63, and the Thunder entered the fourth quarter ahead 97‑66. In other opening‑night action, the Boston Celtics continued their own dominant display against the Philadelphia 76ers. Jayson Tatum posted 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff appearance since tearing his right Achilles tendon the previous season.
His teammate Jaylen Brown chipped in 26 points, while reserve center Neemias Queta added 13 for the second‑seeded Celtics. Boston never fell behind, at one point building a 35‑point cushion as head coach Joe Mazzulla rotated through 12 players. The Celtics knocked down 16 three‑pointers, and Game 2 is slated for Tuesday night in Boston. "That was Celtics basketball," Brown said after the win.
"We've been the harder‑playing team all year. That can't change now that the playoffs have started." Philadelphia’s star guard Tyrese Maxey recorded 21 points and eight assists despite the absence of Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an appendectomy performed on April 9. The 2023 MVP continues his rehabilitation, and his return date remains uncertain. Paul George contributed 17 points for the 76ers, while V.J.
Edgecombe added 13, but the team shot a dismal 4‑of‑23 from beyond the arc. Maxey was pressured by a tenacious Celtics defense that contested 12 of his 14 first‑half attempts and limited him to 8‑of‑20 shooting overall. The 76ers trailed 64‑46 at halftime, marking their largest halftime deficit in a playoff game against Boston since 1982. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs celebrated a strong start to their postseason run, with rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama scoring a career‑high 35 points in his playoff debut as the Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111‑98.
Wembanyama’s 21 points in the first half set a new NBA record for the most points in the opening half of a playoff debut since the league began detailed play‑by‑play tracking in 1997. His total also eclipsed a franchise benchmark, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32‑point debut in 1998. The Spurs received additional firepower from Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox, each contributing 17 points and combining for 15 assists.
Portland’s standout was Deni Avdija, who posted 30 points and 10 rebounds, having previously helped the Blazers secure the No. 7 seed by beating Phoenix 114‑110 in a play‑in contest. Rookie Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft, added 18 points for the Spurs. Game 2 of the series will be played Tuesday night in San Antonio, with the matchup shifting to Portland for Games 3 and 4.
The Frost Bank Center was filled to capacity, with former Spurs legends Tim Duncan and David Robinson seated courtside, underscoring the significance of the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2019. The Spurs had endured a six‑year postseason drought after a period of sustained success that included five championships and a league‑tying 22 consecutive playoff berths. Overall, the opening night of the 2026 NBA playoffs delivered a mixture of dominant performances, record‑setting feats, and compelling storylines that set the stage for an exciting postseason.
Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming games such as the Toronto Raptors versus the Cleveland Cavaliers scheduled for Monday night on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m. local time.