Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander delivered a 25‑point performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their championship defense with a dominant 119‑84 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference first‑round 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, sinking 15 of 17 shots before sitting out the final quarter. His efficiency from the stripe helped anchor a Thunder squad that never looked back after the early minutes.
Supporting Gilgeous‑Alexander, rookie forward Jalen Williams contributed 22 points, while the highly‑touted center Chet Holmgren added a solid 16 points and proved his presence on both ends of the floor. The top‑seeded Thunder will host Game 2 on Wednesday, looking to build on the momentum generated by a first‑half surge that left them with a 65‑44 lead at halftime. For the Suns, veteran guard Devin Booker managed 23 points, and forward Dillon Brooks added 18, though his shooting was inefficient at 6‑of‑22.
Phoenix struggled overall, converting just 34.9 percent of its field‑goal attempts and falling into an early 5‑0 deficit as the Thunder appeared sluggish after a week off. The situation shifted quickly when Brooks was assessed a flagrant‑one foul for striking Holmgren in the face during the opening quarter. Oklahoma City responded with a 12‑2 run that vaulted them to a 24‑14 advantage.
A highlight of the quarter came when Thunder guard Jaylin Williams launched a long 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 turned to release a three‑pointer as the buzzer sounded, extending the lead to 35‑20.
The Thunder continued to press, and by the end of the third quarter they had widened the margin to 97‑66, thanks in part to a three‑point play by Gilgeous‑Alexander that pushed the score to 90‑63. The game also featured a brief interlude of NBA programming notes, reminding viewers about Sky Sports live coverage and streaming options, but the on‑court action was the true focus. The Thunder’s defensive intensity, combined with efficient scoring from their young core, left the Suns unable to recover, and Oklahoma City never looked back. In another first‑round matchup, the Boston Celtics continued their flawless start by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series.
Jayson Tatum recorded 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 added 26 points, while reserve center Neemias Queta contributed 13 points off the bench. Tatum’s 21‑point first half came in just his 17th game of the season after undergoing surgery to repair his Achilles in May. Boston never relinquished the lead, building a 35‑point cushion as head coach Joe Mazzulla rotated 12 players throughout the contest.
The Celtics showcased their shooting prowess by connecting on 16 three‑pointers, underscoring the depth of their offensive arsenal. After the win, Brown praised the team’s identity, saying, “That was Celtics basketball. We’ve been the harder‑playing team all year. That can’t change now that the playoffs have started.” The 76ers, missing star center Joel Embiid, relied on guard Tyrese Maxey, who posted 21 points and eight assists despite a relentless Celtics defense that contested 12 of his 14 attempts in the opening half and limited him to 8‑of‑20 shooting overall.
The 2023 MVP is still recovering from an appendectomy performed on April 9, and his return timeline remains uncertain. Philadelphia also saw contributions from Paul George (17 points) and V.J.
Edgecombe (13 points), but the team shot a dismal 4‑of‑23 from beyond the arc. Their 64‑46 halftime deficit marked the largest halftime loss they have endured against Boston since 1982. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs celebrated a historic night as rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama exploded for 35 points in his playoff debut, leading the Spurs to a 111‑98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Wembanyama’s 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’s play‑by‑play era began in 1997.
His total of 35 points also established a new franchise record for a playoff debut, eclipsing Tim Duncan’s 32‑point effort in 1998. San Antonio received additional support from Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox, each contributing 17 points and combining for 15 assists. Portland’s standout was Deni Avdija, who tallied 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, having previously helped the Blazers secure the seventh seed by defeating Phoenix 114‑110 in a play‑in game.
Rookie Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft, added 18 points for the Spurs.
The win set the stage for Game 2 in San Antonio on Tuesday, before the series shifts to Portland for Games 3 and 4. The atmosphere at the Frost Bank Center was electric, with a sell‑out crowd that included former Spurs legends Tim Duncan and Hall of Famer David Robinson seated courtside. The Spurs were making their first playoff appearance since 2019, ending a six‑season drought that followed a period of sustained success that featured five NBA championships and a league‑tying 22 consecutive postseason berths.
Overall, the opening night of the 2026 NBA playoffs delivered decisive victories across the board, showcasing the depth of talent on the defending champion teams and setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting postseason. Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming games featuring the Toronto Raptors at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ beginning at 11 p.m. on Monday.