Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a dominant opening victory in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, dropping 25 points as the defending champions routed the Phoenix Suns 119‑84 in Game 1 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, converting 15 of 17 attempts before bowing out for the fourth quarter.
His efficiency from the stripe helped anchor a performance that saw the Thunder establish a lead early and never look back. Supporting Gilgeous‑Alexander were fellow starters Jalen Williams and the rookie sensation Chet Holmgren.
Williams contributed 22 points, showcasing his ability to score both inside and on the perimeter, while Holmgren added 16 points and displayed his growing confidence as a versatile big man. The top‑seeded Thunder will look to build on this momentum when they host the Suns again for Game 2 on Wednesday. For Phoenix, the night belonged to Devin Booker, who managed 23 points, and Dillon Brooks, who added 18 despite a rough shooting night of 6‑of‑22 from the field.
The Suns struggled with shooting efficiency overall, finishing at just 34.9 percent from the floor. After a sluggish start that saw them jump ahead 5‑0, the Suns were unable to sustain any momentum as the Thunder’s defense tightened and the offense surged. 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 galvanize Oklahoma City, which responded with a 12‑2 run that flipped the early lead to a 24‑14 advantage. Later, with the clock winding down in the quarter, Jaylin Williams launched a long pass that traveled nearly three‑quarters of the court.
Holmgren, positioned 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, extending the lead to 35‑20. The Thunder continued to widen the gap, entering halftime with a 65‑44 lead.
At the break, Holmgren had already tallied 16 points, and Gilgeous‑Alexander was not far behind with 15. In the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that pushed the Thunder’s lead to 90‑63, and by the end of the period the margin stood at 97‑66. The fourth quarter saw Oklahoma City maintain its dominance, sealing a 35‑point victory that underscored their status as the league’s reigning champions.
In other first‑round action, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum delivered a strong showing in his return to playoff basketball after recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon sustained last season. Tatum posted 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out seven assists as the Celtics dispatched the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series. Fellow Celtic Jaylen Brown contributed 26 points, while reserve center Neemias Queta added 13 off the bench. Boston never trailed, at one point building a 35‑point lead, and coach Joe Mazzulla rotated through 12 players, highlighting the depth of his roster.
The Celtics were especially lethal from beyond the arc, connecting on 16 three‑pointers. Philadelphia’s effort was hampered by the absence of star center Joel Embiid, who was still recovering from an appendectomy performed on April 9.
Tyrese Maxey, the league’s 2023 MVP, managed 21 points and eight assists, but was heavily pressured by the Celtics’ defense, which contested 12 of his 14 attempts in the first half and limited him to 8‑of‑20 shooting overall. The Sixers also struggled from three‑point range, making just four of 23 attempts.
Their 64‑46 halftime deficit marked the largest margin they had ever faced against Boston in a playoff game since 1982. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama announced his arrival on the postseason stage with a historic performance. The French forward poured in 35 points as the Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111‑98 in Game One of their Western Conference matchup.
Wembanyama’s 21 points in the opening half set a new 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 eclipsed a Spurs franchise record, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32‑point debut in 1998. Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists, ensuring the Spurs’ offense flowed smoothly around their star. Portland’s standout was Deni Avdija, who posted a double‑double with 30 points and 10 rebounds, having helped the Blazers secure the No.
7 seed with a 114‑110 win over Phoenix in a play‑in game. Additionally, Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft, contributed 18 points, showcasing the depth of talent on the young Blazers squad. The Spurs’ home crowd at the Frost Bank Center was electric, with former legends Tim Duncan and David Robinson sitting courtside together, a symbolic nod to the franchise’s storied past. San Antonio’s playoff appearance marked the end of a six‑year postseason drought—the longest since the team’s era of five championships and a record‑tying 22 consecutive playoff berths.
Game Two is slated for Tuesday night in San Antonio, with the series set to shift to Portland for Games Three and Four. 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 the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups including the Toronto Raptors versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m.
on Monday. The early results suggest that the defending champions—both in the West and the East—are intent on making deep runs, while emerging stars like Wembanyama and Gilgeous‑Alexander signal a bright future for the league.