Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a commanding performance, tallying 25 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their championship defense with a resounding 119-84 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference first‑round series on Sunday. The league's reigning MVP was efficient at the free‑throw line, sinking 15 of his 17 attempts, even though his shooting from the field was modest, converting just five of 18 tries before sitting out the final quarter.
Supporting the star guard, forward Jalen Williams contributed 22 points, while the highly touted rookie center Chet Holmgren added 16, helping the top‑seeded Thunder secure a comfortable lead heading into Game 2, which they will host on Wednesday. For Phoenix, veteran scorer Devin Booker managed 23 points, and forward Dillon Brooks added 18, though the Suns struggled overall, shooting a paltry 34.9 percent from the field. The Suns jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage as the Thunder appeared sluggish 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 sparked a 12-2 run for the Thunder, flipping the momentum and giving them a 24-14 lead. In the final seconds of the quarter, point guard Jaylin Williams launched a long, cross‑court pass that found Holmgren with his back to the basket.
After a single dribble to his right, Holmgren turned and released a three‑pointer that swished as the buzzer sounded, extending the lead to 35-20. Oklahoma City continued to dominate the first half, widening the margin to 65-44 at halftime. Holmgren had already amassed 16 points, and Gilgeous‑Alexander contributed 15 by the break. The Thunder's offensive flow remained relentless; midway through the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that pushed the lead to 90-63.
By the end of the third, the Thunder were up 97-66, leaving the Suns with little hope of a comeback. The game summary also included highlights from other first‑round matchups. In the Eastern Conference, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in his playoff return after recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon suffered last season.
His teammate Jaylen Brown added 26 points, while reserve center Neemias Queta chipped in 13. The Celtics never trailed, building a 35‑point cushion as coach Joe Mazzulla rotated through 12 players and the team knocked down 16 three‑pointers.
Boston will host Game 2 on Tuesday night. Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points and dished eight assists despite missing star center Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an appendectomy performed on April 9. The 2023 MVP also faced intense defensive pressure from Boston, which contested 12 of his 14 shot attempts in the first half and limited him to 8‑of‑20 shooting overall.
The Sixers entered halftime down 64-46, marking their largest deficit against Boston in a playoff game since 1982. In another Western Conference clash, San Antonio Spurs rookie phenom 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 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.
Wembanyama also established a Spurs franchise record for points in a playoff debut, surpassing Tim Duncan's 32‑point effort in 1998. Fellow Spurs contributors Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists, while 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, contributed 18 points for San Antonio. The Spurs' victory was celebrated by a sell‑out crowd at the Frost Bank Center, which featured former Spurs greats Tim Duncan and Hall of Famer David Robinson seated courtside.
The atmosphere underscored the significance of the occasion, as San Antonio returned to the postseason for the first time since 2019, ending a six‑year drought that followed a historic run of five NBA championships and 22 consecutive playoff appearances. Looking ahead, the Thunder will aim to maintain their momentum in Game 2 against Phoenix, while the Celtics seek to extend their dominance over Philadelphia. The Spurs will host the Blazers for Game 2 on Tuesday night before the series shifts back to Portland for Games 3 and 4. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, which continues to broadcast the 2026 NBA playoffs, including upcoming matchups such as the Toronto Raptors versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m.
on Monday. Overall, the opening night of the 2026 postseason delivered a mix of dominant performances, historic individual achievements, and compelling storylines that set the tone for an exciting playoff run across both conferences.