Thunder, Celtics open NBA playoffs with big wins, Magic shock Pistons

TL;DR

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics both secured significant victories in their NBA playoff openers, with the Thunder defeating the Phoenix Suns 119-84 and the Celtics overpowering the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic surprised the Detroit Pistons with a 112-101 win.

Key points

Thunder won 119-84 against the Suns
Celtics defeated the 76ers 123-91
Magic shocked Pistons 112-101
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points
Jayson Tatum led Celtics with 25 points

Oklahoma City ThunderBoston CelticsPhoenix SunsPhiladelphia 76ers

Jayson Tatum (R) of the Boston Celtics led the charge, racking up 21 points in the first half (Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP) The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics launched their NBA playoff campaigns with big wins on Sunday as Orlando shocked the Detroit Pistons. The Thunder, trying to become the first team since Golden State in 2017 and 2018 to repeat as champions, routed the Phoenix Suns 119-84. The Celtics, seeded second in the Eastern Conference behind Detroit, dominated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91, but the Pistons trailed all the way in a 112-101 loss to the Magic. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP, scored 25 points, connecting on just five of 18 from the field but drilling 15 of his 17 free throw attempts for Oklahoma City. He added seven assists and two blocked shots before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. added 22 points and scored 16 for the Thunder, who wasted no time in seizing control in game one of their best-of-seven Western Conference series in front of a revved-up crowd at the Paycom Center. scored 23 points for Phoenix but the Suns, who scraped through the play-in to claim the Western Conference eighth seed, were largely helpless against a Thunder team that amassed the best record in the league with 64 regular-season wins. "It was a great defensive performance," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I thought the guys were really competitive, played on a string, great communication, covered for each other. (It) wasn't perfect, but we had each other's backs. "We forced them to earn everything." While the well-rested Thunder came out firing, the Pistons looked rusty after having a week off and the Magic, who beat Charlotte on Friday to secure their playoff spot, took full advantage. scored 23 points and scored 11 of his 19 in the fourth quarter as the Magic withstood a 39-point performance from Pistons star . Detroit trailed by as many as 13 in the first quarter and by 11 early in the third. A Cunningham three-pointer tied it with 7:04 left in the third, but the Magic pulled away again. "I liked our composure the whole game, our energy," Wagner said after the Magic handed the Pistons an 11th straight home playoff defeat, a skid dating back to 2008.

Q&A

What were the scores of the NBA playoff games on Sunday?

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 119-84, the Boston Celtics won against the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91, and the Orlando Magic shocked the Detroit Pistons 112-101.

Who were the standout players in the Thunder vs. Suns game?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points for the Thunder, while Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 points.

How did Jayson Tatum perform in the Celtics' playoff game?

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points, with 21 of those points coming in the first half, contributing significantly to the Celtics' victory over the 76ers.

What is the significance of the Magic's win against the Pistons?

The Magic's victory marked the Pistons' 11th consecutive home playoff loss, a streak that dates back to 2008.