Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander delivered a dominant performance, tallying 25 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their championship run with a decisive 119‑84 triumph over the Phoenix Suns in the opening contest of the Western Conference first‑round series on Sunday. The league's reigning MVP was efficient at the free‑throw line, sinking 15 of 17 attempts, though he managed only five makes on 18 field‑goal attempts before sitting out the final quarter to preserve his stamina.
Supporting the star guard, forward Jalen Williams contributed a solid 22 points, while rookie center Chet Holmgren added 16, helping the top‑seeded Thunder establish a comfortable lead early and maintain momentum throughout the game. The Thunder will welcome the Suns back to the arena for Game 2 on Wednesday, looking to extend their advantage. For Phoenix, veteran guard Devin Booker managed 23 points, and forward Dillon Brooks added 18, but the Suns struggled with shooting efficiency, converting just 34.9% of their attempts. The game began poorly for Oklahoma City, as the Suns surged to a 5‑0 lead after the Thunder emerged from a week‑long layoff appearing sluggish.
However, a pivotal moment arrived in the first quarter when Brooks was assessed a flagrant‑one foul for striking Holmgren in the face. The incident sparked a 12‑2 run for the Thunder, flipping the score to a 24‑14 lead.
Later in the quarter, a highlight‑reel play unfolded when Jaylin Williams launched a long pass that traveled roughly three‑quarters of the court. Holmgren, receiving the ball with his back to the basket, took a single dribble to his right, spun, and released a three‑pointer as the buzzer sounded, pushing Oklahoma City’s lead to 35‑20.
By halftime, the Thunder had expanded the margin to 65‑44, with Holmgren posting 16 points and Gilgeous‑Alexander adding 15. In the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that stretched the lead to 90‑63, and the Thunder entered the final period with a 97‑66 advantage.
In other playoff action, Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum recorded a double‑double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in his first postseason appearance since tearing his right Achilles tendon the previous season. The Celtics overwhelmed the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first‑round matchup. Fellow Celtic Jaylen Brown contributed 26 points, while center Neemias Queta added 13. Tatum’s 21 first‑half points came in just his 17th game of the season following offseason surgery to repair his Achilles.
Boston never fell behind, building a 35‑point cushion as head coach Joe Mazzulla rotated through 12 players. The Celtics showcased their shooting prowess by sinking 16 three‑pointers.
Game 2 is slated for Tuesday night in Boston, where the Celtics will look to cement their dominance. "That was Celtics basketball," Brown remarked after the win. "We've been the harder‑playing team all year. That can't change now that the playoffs have started." For the 76ers, guard Tyrese Maxey posted 21 points and eight assists despite the absence of star center Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an appendectomy performed on April 9.
The 2023 MVP’s return date remains uncertain. Philadelphia also saw contributions from Paul George (17 points) and V.J.
Edgecombe (13 points), but the team struggled from beyond the arc, converting only four of 23 attempts. Maxey faced relentless defensive pressure, with the Celtics contesting 12 of his 14 shots in the first half and limiting him to 8‑of‑20 shooting overall. The 64‑46 halftime deficit marked Philadelphia’s largest playoff shortfall against Boston since 1982. Turning to the Western Conference, San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama exploded for 35 points in his playoff debut, leading the Spurs to a 111‑98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1.
Wembanyama’s 21 points in the opening half set an NBA record for the most points scored in the first half of a playoff debut since the league began detailed play‑by‑play tracking in 1997. His total also broke the Spurs’ franchise record for a playoff debut, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32‑point effort in 1998. Spurs teammates Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox each added 17 points, combining for 15 assists, while Portland’s Deni Avdija posted a double‑double with 30 points and 10 rebounds, having led the Blazers to a 114‑110 win over Phoenix in the play‑in tournament to secure the No.
7 seed. Rookie Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, contributed 18 points. Game 2 will be played Tuesday night in San Antonio, after which the series shifts 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 following a period of sustained success that included five championships and a record‑tying 22 consecutive playoff berths. Overall, the opening night of the 2026 NBA playoffs delivered a mix of dominant performances, historic individual feats, and the continuation of storylines that have defined the season. Fans can continue to follow live action on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups such as the Toronto Raptors versus the Cleveland Cavaliers slated for Monday night on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m.
local time.