Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander poured in 25 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder launched their championship defense with a crushing 119‑84 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference first‑round series on Sunday. The reigning league MVP was efficient at the free‑throw line, converting 15 of 17 attempts, though he managed only five makes on 18 field‑goal tries before sitting out the final period. Supporting the star performance, forward Jalen Williams contributed 22 points while rookie center Chet Holmgren added 16, helping the top‑seeded Thunder build a lead that they would never relinquish.
The win sets up a home game for Oklahoma City on Wednesday when they will host Game 2. For Phoenix, Devin Booker managed 23 points and Dillon Brooks added 18, but the Suns struggled overall, shooting just 34.9 percent from the field and turning the ball over repeatedly. The Suns opened the contest with a brief 5‑0 run, capitalizing on the Thunder’s sluggish start after a week off.
However, Oklahoma City quickly found its rhythm. Early in the first quarter, Brooks was assessed a flagrant‑one foul after striking Holmgren in the face, a moment that seemed to ignite the Thunder. They responded with a 12‑2 surge that flipped the scoreboard to a 24‑14 advantage.
The quarter ended dramatically when Jaylin Williams launched a long, high‑arching pass that traveled roughly three‑quarters of the court. Holmgren caught the ball with his back to the basket, took a single dribble to his right, turned, and released a three‑pointer as the buzzer sounded, extending the lead to 35‑20. By halftime, Oklahoma City had stretched the margin to 65‑44.
Holmgren’s 16 points and Gilgeous‑Alexander’s 15 at the break underscored the Thunder’s balanced attack. In the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that pushed the Thunder’s lead to 90‑63, and they entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 97‑66 edge.
The game’s narrative was not limited to the Thunder‑Suns matchup. In the Eastern Conference, Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff appearance since tearing his right Achilles tendon last season. The Celtics dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1, with fellow star Jaylen Brown adding 26 points and rookie center Neemias Queta chipping in 13. Tatum’s 21‑point first half was a testament to his recovery after undergoing Achilles surgery in May.
Boston never fell behind, building a 35‑point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla rotated through 12 players and the team knocked down 16 three‑pointers. The Celtics will host Game 2 on Tuesday night. Philadelphia’s effort was hampered by the absence of Joel Embiid, who is still recuperating from an appendectomy performed on April 9. Tyrese Maxey managed 21 points and eight assists, but the Celtics’ defense forced him into contested shots, limiting him to eight makes on 20 attempts.
The 76ers shot a dismal 4‑of‑23 from beyond the arc, and their 64‑46 halftime deficit marked the largest playoff shortfall against Boston since 1982. Further west, San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama exploded for 35 points in his playoff debut, leading the Spurs to a 111‑98 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers. His 21 points in the first half set an 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. Wembanyama also eclipsed a franchise milestone, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32‑point debut in 1998.
The Spurs received solid contributions from Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, each adding 17 points and combining for 15 assists. Portland’s Deni Avdija posted a double‑double with 30 points and 10 rebounds, having helped the Blazers secure the No. 7 seed by beating Phoenix 114‑110 in a play‑in game.
Rookie Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft, also chipped in 18 points.
Game 2 of the Thunder‑Suns series will be played in San Antonio on Tuesday, with the series slated to shift to Portland for Games 3 and 4 if necessary. The Frost Bank Center was packed with a sell‑out crowd that included former Thunder greats Tim Duncan and Hall of Famer David Robinson sitting courtside, underscoring the significance of the Spurs’ first playoff appearance since 2019. That drought followed a six‑year postseason absence after a period in which San Antonio captured five NBA championships and appeared in a league‑tying 22 consecutive playoffs. Overall, the opening night of the 2026 NBA playoffs delivered a mixture of dominant performances, historic individual feats, and storylines of recovery and redemption.
Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports, with the next marquee matchup featuring the Toronto Raptors against the Cleveland Cavaliers slated for Monday night on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m. local time.