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 the Western Conference first‑round series on Sunday. The league’s reigning MVP was efficient at the charity stripe, sinking 15 of 17 free throws, even though he managed just five makes on 18 attempts from the field before resting during the final quarter. Supporting the star guard, forward Jalen Williams contributed 22 points while rookie big man Chet Holmgren added 16, helping the top‑seeded Thunder build a lead that proved insurmountable.
The Thunder will welcome the Suns back to the arena for Game 2 on Wednesday, hoping to extend the advantage. For Phoenix, veteran shooting guard Devin Booker tallied 23 points and forward Dillon Brooks added 18, though the Suns struggled with shooting, converting only 34.9 percent of their attempts. The game began poorly for Oklahoma City, which stumbled to a 5‑0 deficit after a week off, but the Thunder quickly found their rhythm. Early in the first quarter, Brooks was assessed a flagrant‑one foul for striking Holmgren in the face, a moment that seemed to ignite Oklahoma City.
The Thunder responded with a 12‑2 run, flipping the score to a 24‑14 lead. A highlight of the opening period came as Jaylin Williams launched a long pass that traveled three‑quarters of the court. Holmgren, receiving the ball with his back to the basket, took a single dribble to his right, turned, and released a three‑pointer as the quarter expired, pushing the Thunder’s lead to 35‑20. By halftime, Oklahoma City had stretched the margin to 65‑44.
Holmgren had already posted 16 points, while Gilgeous‑Alexander added 15. The second half saw the Thunder continue to dominate. Late in the third quarter, Gilgeous‑Alexander executed a three‑point play that pushed the lead to 90‑63, and the team entered the fourth quarter with a 97‑66 advantage. The Thunder’s defensive intensity was evident throughout, limiting the Suns to under 35 percent shooting and forcing numerous turnovers.
Their transition game was swift, often turning defensive stops into easy fast‑break points, a hallmark of the Thunder’s playoff identity under head coach Mark Daigneault. In other opening‑night action, the Boston Celtics dispatched the Philadelphia 76ers 123‑91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first‑round series. Jayson Tatum recorded a double‑double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, marking his return to postseason play after recovering from a right‑Achilles tendon rupture suffered last season. Celtics forward Jaylen Brown added 26 points, while center Neemias Queta contributed 13 off the bench.
Boston never relinquished the lead, at one point building a 35‑point cushion. Coach Joe Mazzulla rotated 12 players, showcasing the depth that propelled the Celtics to a league‑best record.
The team connected on 16 three‑pointers, underscoring their perimeter firepower. The next game is slated for Tuesday night in Boston. "That was Celtics basketball," Brown said after the win.
"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 recovering from an appendectomy performed on April 9. The 2023 MVP’s health remains a question mark for Philadelphia’s future playoff hopes.
Paul George added 17 points for the Sixers, while rookie V.J. Edgecombe chipped in 13. However, the team shot a dismal 4‑of‑23 from beyond the arc and struggled to contain Boston’s aggressive defense, which contested 12 of Maxey’s 14 first‑half attempts and held him to 8‑of‑20 overall shooting. Philadelphia’s 64‑46 halftime deficit was its largest against Boston in a playoff game since 1982, highlighting the Celtics’ dominance on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the San Antonio Spurs celebrated a 111‑98 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their own first‑round matchup. Rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama exploded for 35 points, setting a franchise record for the most points in a playoff debut and eclipsing Tim Duncan’s previous mark of 32 set in 1998.
Wembanyama’s 21 first‑half points also established 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. San Antonio received strong support from a sell‑out crowd at the Frost Bank Center, where former Spurs legends Tim Duncan and David Robinson sat courtside, reminding fans of the organization’s storied past that includes five championships and a league‑tying 22 consecutive postseason appearances before a six‑year drought ended this season. Alongside Wembanyama, guard Stephon Castle and point guard De'Aaron Fox each added 17 points, and the duo combined for 15 assists, facilitating the Spurs’ fluid offense. Portland’s leading scorer, Deni Avdija, posted a double‑double with 30 points and 10 rebounds, despite the team’s loss.
The Blazers had earned the No. 7 seed by defeating Phoenix 114‑110 in a play‑in game earlier in the week. Rookie Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, contributed 18 points for the Spurs. Game 2 of the Spurs‑Blazers series is set 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 performances, record‑setting feats, and a glimpse of the storylines that will shape the postseason. The Thunder’s early blowout suggests they are serious contenders to repeat, while the Celtics’ depth and defensive tenacity reaffirm their status as a powerhouse in the East. The Spurs, led by a historic rookie debut, have re‑energized a franchise eager to return to its championship legacy.
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.