The Western Conference playoffs are open for business—and Monday’s two first-round openers delivered exactly what fans were hoping for. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder looked every bit like it, and the NBA‘s most exciting young player announced himself on the postseason stage in record-breaking fashion.
Thunder Steamroll Suns in Title Defense Opener
The Thunder picked up right where they left off last season.
The reigning champions opened their title defense with a 119-84 dismantling of the Phoenix Suns in Game 1, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 25 points—15 of which came from the free-throw line—before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. Jalen Williams added 22 and Chet Holmgren contributed 16 in a performance that was never particularly close after the first few minutes.
The Suns drew first blood, jumping out to an early 5–0 lead while the Thunder shook off a week of inactivity. OKC responded immediately. A flagrant foul from Dillon Brooks on Holmgren sparked a 12–2 run, and by the end of the first quarter,the Thunderled 35-20—the final basket a three-quarter-court pass from Jaylin Williams that Holmgren caught with his back to the basket, dribbled once, and drained as the buzzer sounded.
It only got worse for Phoenix from there. The Thunder led 65-44 at halftime and 97–66 heading into the fourth. Gilgeous-Alexander finished 5-for-18 from the field but 15-for-17 from the line—a reminder that efficiency takes many forms. Nine Thunder players logged at least 13 minutes, a luxury afforded by the margin.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 23 points. Dillon Brooks shot 6-for-22 and finished with 18. Jalen Green, who had scored 35 and 36 in Phoenix’s two play-in games, was held to 17 on 6-for-16 shooting.
For the Thunder, this is the third consecutive year they have earned the top seed and opened the playoffs after watching the play-in tournament unfold. Two years ago they won a tight Game 1 against New Orleans. Last year they routed Memphis by 51. The margin of victory is becoming a habit.
Game 2 is Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Wembanyama Makes History in Spurs’ Playoff Return
Seven years is a long time to wait for playoff basketball. San Antonio made sure the return was worth it.
Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his playoff debut—a new Spurs franchise record, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32 from 1998—as the Spurs rolled past the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98 in a Game 1 that felt like a coronation. Wemby’s 21 first-half points set an NBA record for the most in the opening half of a playoff debut since the play-by-play era began in 1997.
Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists. In the crowd sat Tim Duncan and David Robinson—watching from courtside as the franchise’s next era announced itself.
Wembanyama’s highlights included a behind-the-back dribble at halfcourt, a spin move on Deni Avdija at the top of the key, and a two-handed dunk that had the sell-out crowd at the Frost Bank Center on its feet. He was unbothered by the moment.
“It is obviously different,” Wembanyama said, “but we’ve been really good in the regular season. So we have no reason to act differently or do anything different.”
Portland’s Avdija led the Blazers with 30 points and 10 rebounds, and Scoot Henderson added 18—but the Trail Blazers shot just 10-for-38 from three-point range and were out-rebounded 45–38.
“Against them, you’ve got to shoot the ball well from 3s,” said Blazers coach Tiago Splitter. “We didn’t.”
Game 2 is Wednesday in San Antonio.
