Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 factors and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder started their title protection with a 119-84 rout of the Phoenix Suns in Sport 1 of their first-round Western Convention playoff sequence on Sunday.
The reigning league MVP made simply 5 of 18 subject objectives however went 15 of 17 on the foul line earlier than sitting out the fourth quarter.
Jalen Williams scored 22 factors and Chet Holmgren added 16 for the top-seeded Thunder, who will host Sport 2 on Wednesday.
Devin Booker scored 23 factors and Dillon Brooks scored 18 on 6-of-22 taking pictures for the Suns, who shot 34.9% from the sphere.
Phoenix broke out to a 5-0 lead because the Thunder began chilly following per week off.
Oklahoma Metropolis heated up shortly. Brooks was known as for a flagrant-one foul within the first quarter for hitting Holmgren within the face. The Thunder went on a 12-2 surge after that to take a 24-14 lead.
Within the closing seconds of the quarter, Oklahoma Metropolis’s Jaylin Williams threw a go about three-quarters of the size of the court docket. Holmgren caught it along with his again to the basket, took one dribble to his proper, then turned and drained a three-pointer as time expired to place Oklahoma Metropolis up 35-20.
Oklahoma Metropolis prolonged the benefit to 65-44 at half-time. Holmgren had 16 factors and Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 on the break. Gilgeous-Alexander transformed a three-point play to push Oklahoma Metropolis’s result in 90-63 late within the third quarter, and the Thunder took a 97-66 edge into the fourth.
Tatum evokes Celtics win over Sixers
Jayson Tatum was making his return to the playoffs with the Celtics after final season’s damage
Jayson Tatum had 25 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in his first playoff recreation since rupturing his proper Achilles tendon final season because the Boston Celtics rolled previous the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Sport 1 of their Jap Convention first-round sequence.
Jaylen Brown scored 26 factors and Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics. Tatum scored 21 factors within the first half, taking part in in simply his seventeenth recreation this season following surgical procedure final Could to restore his Achilles tendon.
Boston by no means trailed, constructing a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 gamers. The Celtics related on 16 3-pointers. Sport 2 is Tuesday night time in Boston.
“That was Celtics basketball,” Brown stated. “We’ve been the harder-playing team all year. That can’t change now that the playoffs have started.”
Tyrese Maxey had 21 factors and eight assists for the 76ers, who performed with out Joel Embiid. The 2023 MVP continues to get better following an appendectomy on April 9. It is unclear when he’ll be capable to return.
Paul George scored 17 factors and V.J. Edgecombe added 13. Philadelphia was 4 of 23 from 3-point vary.
Maxey was hounded by a Celtics protection that contested 12 of his 14 shot makes an attempt within the first half and held him to eight of 20 from the sphere.
Philadelphia’s 64-46 half-time deficit was its largest in a playoff recreation in opposition to Boston since 1982.
Watch the 2026 NBA playoffs dwell on Sky Sports activities, persevering with with the Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports activities+ from 11pm on Monday night.
