Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander delivered a 25‑point performance 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 Western Conference first‑round series on Sunday. Despite a modest shooting night—making only five of his 18 attempts from the field—Gilgeous‑Alexander was flawless from the charity stripe, converting 15 of 17 free throws before sitting out the final quarter. Supporting him, forward Jalen Williams contributed 22 points, while rookie center Chet Holmgren added 16, helping the top‑seeded Thunder build a sizable lead that they never relinquished. The team will host Game 2 on Wednesday, looking to extend their advantage.
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 going 6‑for‑22 from three‑point range. The Suns briefly led 5‑0 early in the game, capitalizing on the Thunder’s slow start after a week off, but Oklahoma City quickly found its rhythm. A pivotal moment came early in the first quarter when Brooks was assessed a flagrant‑one foul for striking Holmgren in the face.
The incident seemed to fire up the Thunder, who responded with a 12‑2 run to seize a 24‑14 lead. Later, with the clock winding down in the quarter, Jaylin Williams launched a long 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 that swished as the buzzer sounded, pushing the Thunder’s lead to 35‑20. By halftime, Oklahoma City had stretched the gap to 65‑44.
Holmgren had already tallied 16 points, and Gilgeous‑Alexander was close behind with 15. In the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that expanded the lead to 90‑63, and the Thunder entered the final period with a 97‑66 edge. The game also featured notable performances from other playoff contenders.
In Boston, Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in his first postseason appearance since tearing his right Achilles tendon last season. His Celtics teammates, including Jaylen Brown (26 points) and Neemias Queta (13 points), helped the second‑seeded squad dominate the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series. Boston never trailed, building a 35‑point cushion as Coach Joe Mazzulla rotated through 12 players, and the team knocked down 16 three‑pointers. Tyrese Maxey contributed 21 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who were without Joel Embiid as the 2023 MVP continued his recovery from an April 9 appendectomy.
Paul George added 17 points for Philadelphia, while V.J. Edgecombe chipped in 13, though the Sixers shot a dismal 4‑of‑23 from beyond the arc. Maxey was heavily contested, with the Celtics’ defense challenging 12 of his 14 attempts in the first half and limiting him to 8‑of‑20 overall. Philadelphia’s 64‑46 halftime deficit marked its largest playoff shortfall against Boston since 1982.
In the Western Conference, San Antonio’s phenom Victor Wembanyama exploded for 35 points in his playoff debut, guiding the Spurs to a 111‑98 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers. His 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. The total also eclipsed Tim Duncan’s previous franchise benchmark of 32 points in a debut back in 1998.
Teammates Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists, while the Spurs’ bench provided crucial contributions. For Portland, Deni Avdija posted a double‑double with 30 points and 10 rebounds, having helped the Blazers secure the No. 7 seed with a 114‑110 play‑in victory over Phoenix.
Rookie Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, contributed 18 points. The Spurs’ home crowd was electric, with former legends Tim Duncan and Hall of Famer David Robinson sitting courtside together, underscoring the significance of the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2019. San Antonio had endured a six‑year postseason drought following a run of five championships and 22 consecutive playoff berths, a streak that tied the league record.
Game 2 is slated for Tuesday night in San Antonio, after which the series will shift to Portland for Games 3 and 4. Overall, the opening night of the 2026 NBA playoffs delivered a mix of dominant victories, record‑setting performances, and compelling storylines that set the tone for what promises to be an exciting postseason across both conferences. Viewers can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups including the Toronto Raptors versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m. Monday.