Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander poured in 25 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder launched their championship defense with a commanding 119‑84 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the opening game of their first‑round Western Conference playoff series on Sunday. Despite a modest shooting night—making just five of his 18 attempts from the field—Gilgeous‑Alexander was flawless at the free‑throw line, converting 15 of 17 tries before sitting out the final quarter to preserve his stamina. Supporting him, rookie forward Jalen Williams contributed a solid 22 points, while the highly touted big man Chet Holmgren added 16.
The top‑seeded Thunder will host the Suns again for Game 2 on Wednesday, looking to build on the momentum generated by their early surge. For Phoenix, veteran guard Devin Booker managed 23 points, and forward Dillon Brooks added 18 despite an inefficient shooting performance of 6‑of‑22.
The Suns struggled overall, shooting just 34.9 percent from the field and falling behind early, trailing 5‑0 as the Thunder appeared sluggish after a week off. The Thunder quickly found their rhythm. Early in the first quarter, Brooks received a flagrant‑one foul for striking Holmgren in the face, a moment that seemed to ignite Oklahoma City’s offense. They responded with a 12‑2 run that flipped the score to a 24‑14 lead.
In the closing seconds of the quarter, point guard Jaylin Williams launched a long, lofted 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 released a three‑pointer as the buzzer sounded, extending the lead to 35‑20. By halftime, Oklahoma City had stretched the gap to 65‑44. Holmgren had already tallied 16 points, and Gilgeous‑Alexander added 15.
The Thunder continued to dominate in the third quarter, with Gilgeous‑Alexander converting a three‑point play that pushed the lead to 90‑63. The momentum carried into the fourth, and the Thunder entered the final period with a 97‑66 advantage.
In other playoff action, Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first postseason appearance since tearing his right Achilles tendon last season. The Celtics dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first‑round matchup. Fellow star Jaylen Brown chipped in 26 points, while rookie center Neemias Queta added 13. Tatum’s 21 first‑half points came in just his 17th game of the season after undergoing surgery in May to repair the Achilles injury.
Boston never relinquished the lead, at one point building a 35‑point cushion. Coach Joe Mazzulla rotated through 12 players, and the team knocked down 16 three‑pointers. The Celtics will host Game 2 on Tuesday night. "That was Celtics basketball," Brown said after the game.
"We've been the harder‑playing team all year. That can't change now that the playoffs have started." For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey posted 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’s return date remains uncertain. Paul George contributed 17 points for the Sixers, while V.J.
Edgecombe added 13. However, the team struggled from beyond the arc, making just four of 23 three‑point attempts.
Maxey was heavily pressured by the Celtics’ defense, which contested 12 of his 14 first‑half shot attempts and limited him to 8‑of‑20 overall shooting. The 64‑46 halftime deficit marked Philadelphia’s largest playoff shortfall against Boston since 1982. Turning to the West, San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama exploded for 35 points in his playoff debut, leading the Spurs to a 111‑98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of their first‑round series. Wembanyama’s 21 points in the first half set a new NBA record for the most points scored in the opening half of a playoff debut since the league began detailed play‑by‑play tracking in 1997.
His total of 35 points also broke the Spurs’ franchise record for a playoff debut, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32‑point effort in 1998. The Spurs received valuable contributions from Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, each adding 17 points and combining for 15 assists. Portland’s standout was Deni Avdija, who posted 30 points and 10 rebounds after his team earned the No. 7 seed by defeating Phoenix 114‑110 in a play‑in game.
Additionally, No. 3 overall draft pick Scoot Henderson, selected behind Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, contributed 18 points for the Spurs. Game Two is slated for Tuesday night in San Antonio, after which the series will shift to Portland for Games Three and Four. The Frost Bank Center was packed to capacity, with former Spurs legends Tim Duncan and Hall of Famer David Robinson sitting courtside together, underscoring the significance of the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2019.
The Spurs had endured a six‑season postseason drought that followed a historic run of five NBA championships and 22 consecutive playoff berths. Overall, the opening night of the 2026 NBA playoffs delivered a mix 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 matchups including the Toronto Raptors versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ starting at 11 p.m. on Monday evening.