Thunder and Celtics Dominate in Playoff Openers with Convincing Wins
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a commanding 119-84 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series on Sunday. The reigning league MVP scored 25 points, making 15 of 17 free throws despite hitting only five of 18 field goals. His teammates, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, added 22 and 16 points, respectively, as the Thunder prepared for Game 2 at home on Wednesday. The game started with the Suns jumping to a 5-0 lead, but the Thunder quickly regained momentum. After a flagrant foul by Dillon Brooks on Holmgren, Oklahoma City surged ahead with a 12-2 run, ending the first quarter with a 35-20 lead thanks to a buzzer-beater three-pointer from Holmgren. At halftime, the Thunder led 65-44, and Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 points. Late in the third quarter, he converted a three-point play, extending the lead to 90-63. In the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum made a triumphant return for the Boston Celtics, scoring 25 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out seven assists in a 123-91 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tatum's performance marked his first playoff game since recovering from an Achilles injury. Jaylen Brown also contributed significantly with 26 points. The Celtics maintained control throughout, never trailing and building a lead as large as 35 points. They hit 16 three-pointers in the game, showcasing their depth as coach Joe Mazzulla utilized all 12 players. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 21 points, but Philadelphia struggled without Joel Embiid, who is recovering from an appendectomy. The team's 64-46 halftime deficit marked their largest in a playoff game against Boston since 1982.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-04-19