Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder began their title defense with a 119-84 rout of the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on Sunday.
The reigning league MVP made just 5 of 18 field goals but was 15 of 17 from the foul line before the end of the fourth quarter.
Jalen Williams had 22 points and Chet Holmgren added 16 for the top-seeded Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
Devin Booker had 23 points and Dylan Brooks had 18 points on 6-of-22 shooting for the Suns, who shot 34.9% from the field.
Phoenix jumped out to a 5-0 lead as the Thunder started to cool off after a week of rest.
Oklahoma City heated up quickly. Brooks was called for a serious foul for hitting Holmgren in the face in the first quarter. The Thunder then went on a 12-2 run to take a 24-14 lead.
Near the end of the quarter, Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams threw a pass about three-quarters of the length of the court. Holmgren caught the ball with his back to the basket, took one dribble to his right, then turned and hit a 3-pointer as time expired to put Oklahoma City up 35-20.
Oklahoma City held a 65-44 lead at halftime. Holmgren had 16 points and Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 at the break. Gilgeous-Alexander converted a 3-point play late in the third quarter to push Oklahoma City’s lead to 90-63, and the Thunder held a 97-66 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Tatum inspires Celtics to win over Sixers
Jayson Tatum is back in the playoffs with the Celtics after being injured last season.
Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season as the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Jaylen Brown had 26 points and Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics. Tatum scored 21 points in the first half and appeared in only his 17th game this season after undergoing Achilles surgery in May of last year.
Boston never trailed, building a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players. The Celtics connected on 16 3-pointers. Game 2 is Tuesday night in Boston.
“It was Celtics basketball,” Brown said. “We’ve been the hardest-playing team all year. That can’t change now that the playoffs are here.”
Tyrese Maxey had 21 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid. The 2023 MVP continues to recover following appendix surgery on April 9. It is unclear when he will be able to return.
Paul George scored 17 points and VJ Edgecombe added 13. Philadelphia scored 4 of its 23 points from 3-point range.
Maxey made 12 of 14 shot attempts in the first half and was paced by a Celtics defense that made him 8 of 20 from the field.
Philadelphia’s 64-46 halftime deficit was its largest deficit in a playoff game against Boston since 1982.
Watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs live on Sky Sports. Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers continues on Sky Sports+ from 11pm on Monday.
