Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander delivered a 25‑point performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder launched their championship run with a commanding 119‑84 triumph over the Phoenix Suns in the opening game of the Western Conference first‑round series on Sunday. The league’s reigning MVP was efficient at the charity stripe, converting 15 of his 17 free‑throw attempts, even though he managed just five makes on 18 field‑goal tries before bowing out for the fourth quarter.
Supporting the star guard, 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 welcome the Suns back for Game 2 on Wednesday at the Oklahoma City arena.
For Phoenix, Devin Booker posted 23 points and Dillon Brooks added 18, though the Suns struggled overall, shooting just 34.9 percent from the floor and going 6‑of‑22 from beyond the arc. The Suns briefly surged to a 5‑0 advantage early in the contest, catching the Thunder off‑guard after a week of rest. However, Oklahoma City quickly found its rhythm.
A flagrant‑one foul on Brooks in the first quarter – a hit that struck Holmgren in the face – sparked a 12‑2 run that pushed the Thunder ahead 24‑14. The quarter concluded with a dramatic play: Jaylin Williams launched a long pass that traveled three‑quarters of the court.
Holmgren, with his back to the basket, caught the ball, took a single dribble to his right, spun, and released a three‑pointer as the buzzer sounded, extending the lead to 35‑20. By halftime, the Thunder had stretched the margin to 65‑44, with Holmgren already up to 16 points and Gilgeous‑Alexander tallying 15. In the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that vaulted Oklahoma City’s advantage to 90‑63, and the Thunder entered the fourth quarter with a 97‑66 edge. In other first‑round action, Boston’s Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his playoff debut after recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon sustained last season.
The Celtics overwhelmed the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series. Jaylen Brown added 26 points, and rookie center Neemias Queta contributed 13. Tatum’s 21 points in the first half came in just his 17th game of the season following Achilles surgery in May. Boston never fell behind, constructing a 35‑point lead as head coach Joe Mazzulla rotated 12 players throughout the contest.
The Celtics were lethal from distance, knocking down 16 three‑pointers. The series shifts back to Boston for Game 2 on Tuesday night. "That was Celtics basketball," Brown remarked.
"We've been the harder‑playing team all year. That can't change now that the playoffs have started." For the 76ers, Tyrese Maxey posted 21 points and eight assists despite the absence of Joel Embiid, who is still recuperating from an appendectomy performed on April 9.
The 2023 MVP’s return timeline remains uncertain. Philadelphia’s Paul George added 17 points, while V.J. Edgecombe supplied 13, but the team shot a dismal 4‑of‑23 from three‑point range. Maxey was relentlessly pressured by the Celtics, who contested 12 of his 14 first‑half attempts and limited him to 8‑of‑20 shooting overall.
The 64‑46 halftime deficit marked Philadelphia’s 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 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1. Wembanyama’s 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’s play‑by‑play era began in 1997, while his 35‑point total eclipsed Tim Duncan’s previous franchise record of 32 set in 1998.
Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox each contributed 17 points and combined for 15 assists, bolstering the Spurs’ offensive flow. Portland’s standout was Deni Avdija, who posted 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds after his team secured the No. 7 seed by defeating Phoenix 114‑110 in a play‑in game.
Rookie Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, added 18 points for the Blazers. Game 2 will be played Tuesday night in San Antonio, with the series slated to move to Portland for Games 3 and 4.
The Frost Bank Center was packed to capacity, featuring former Spurs legends Tim Duncan and David Robinson seated courtside, marking the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2019. San Antonio had endured a six‑year postseason drought that followed a historic run of five championships and 22 consecutive playoff berths, underscoring the significance of Wembanyama’s record‑setting night. Overall, the opening day of the 2026 NBA playoffs delivered a mix of dominant performances, historic milestones, and compelling storylines as the defending champion Thunder, the resurgent Celtics, and the emerging Spurs each set the tone for their respective series.
Fans can continue to follow live action on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups including the Toronto Raptors versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ starting at 11 p.m. on Monday.