The Phoenix Suns suffered a significant 119-84 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their playoff series. Coach Jordan Ott emphasized the team's focus on improvement rather than making excuses.
Key points
Suns lost 119-84 to Thunder in Game 1
Coach Jordan Ott emphasized no excuses
Suns excited for playoff experience
Sellout crowd of 18,203 at Paycom Center
Phoenix SunsOklahoma City Thunder
What Suns must fix for Game 2 after ugly Game 1 loss to OKC. Takeaways
OKLAHOMA CITY â Phoenix Suns coach Jordan Ott didnât blame the NBA Play-In Tournament for an ugly 119-84 loss April 19 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their first-round series before a sellout crowd of 18,203 at Paycom Center.
âI don't think we're an excuse-making team,â Ott said after the game. âWe are excited about the opportunity to play in the playoffs. Weâre excited to get this experience. Weâre excited to come play the best. That hasnât changed.â
The Suns can turn to many more reasons they were no match for the defending NBA champions to open their playoff run.
Phoenix yielded 34 points off its 19 turnovers and only scored two points off just eight Oklahoma City turnovers.
The Suns surrendered 52 points in the paint.
Phoenix shot just 34.9% from the field, going 13-of-39 on 3s. Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green went a combined 12-of-38 in scoring a combined 35 points.
The Thunder led by as many as 39 points.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) dribbles down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) defends in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
Q&A
What did the Suns coach say after their Game 1 loss to the Thunder?
Coach Jordan Ott stated that the Suns are not an excuse-making team and are excited about the playoff experience.
What was the score of the Suns vs. Thunder Game 1 playoff match?
The Suns lost to the Thunder with a score of 119-84 in Game 1.
How many fans attended the Suns' Game 1 against the Thunder?
The game was attended by a sellout crowd of 18,203 fans at Paycom Center.
What challenges did the Suns face in their Game 1 loss?
The Suns struggled to match the performance of the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives as Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) defends in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) celebrate after a play against the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) loses the ball as he falls between Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) dribbles down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) defends in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
1 / 7
Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) dribbles down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) defends in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
4 / 7
Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives as Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) defends in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
5 / 7
Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) celebrate after a play against the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns, OKC Thunder face off in first round of NBA playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) loses the ball as he falls between Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) in the first quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2026.
Thatâs just scratching the surface as to why the Suns couldnât keep up with the Thunder.
Game 1 took on similar theme to Phoenixâs two blowout losses to Oklahoma City in the regular season.
The Thunder handed the Suns their worst loss in franchise history, 138-89, Dec. 10 in Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup quarterfinals and pummeled them, 136-109, going into the All-Star break Feb. 11.
Phoenix has two days to make adjustments for Game 2 Wednesday in hopes of making this series competitive.
âSpend these next few days breaking down film to see what we can get better at,â said Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker, who scored a team-high 23 points.
If history means anything, Phoenix knows it can beat Oklahoma City even after a bad loss.
The Suns responded to that 49-point crash-and-burn loss to the Thunder with a 108-105 home victory Jan. 4.
Here are takeaways as the Suns will look to even the best-of-7 series before heading back to Phoenix for Game 3 April 25.
Next two days
The Suns played their second game in three days after defeating the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament finale April 17, with the second game being an afternoon tip two hours ahead of the Phoenix time zone.
Thatâs not why the Suns lost, though. Oklahoma City is the better team.
Correction.
Oklahoma City is the NBAâs best team that matched an NBA record for best start through 25 games at 24-1.
If any team is going to be a repeat champion for the first since 2018, this is the team to do it.
The Thunder should win this series in convincing fashion over a team that needed two games in the play-in just to make the playoffs, but the Suns have an opportunity to use these next two days to do more than watch film in preparation for Game 2.
âGetting our bodies right,â Booker said. âKeeping our mental high. Staying locked in and we have a sample size to go through with film from tonight.â
Now if the Suns rest up, stay upbeat yet focused and make the right adjustments after watching film, theyâll have a chance to pull off the upset in Game 2.
If they donât, the Thunder will roll through them again.
Think about this.
Oklahoma City won by 35 points with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting just 5-of-17 from the field in scoring a game-high 25 points.
He went 15-of-17 from the line.
Oklahoma City isnât a one-man show now.
Jalen Williams posted 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Chet Holmgren added 16 points and seven boards.
The Thunder played all 14 active players Sunday.
All but one of them scored.
Oklahoma City shot just 30.4% from 3 and still won by 35.
The Thunder finished the regular season ninth in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 36.5%.
They have an insane margin for error, especially against a team theyâre far better than in terms of overall talent and depth.
As Ott said, it felt like the Thunder coming in waves, but there are ways to combat Oklahoma Cityâs advantages.
Game 2 keys
Letâs start with the obvious.
The Suns canât turn the ball over like they did Sunday, and canât play isolation ball against Oklahoma City.
Too many high-level defenders who know how to not only guard, but also do so with physicality and without fouling to the point the opponent isnât living at the free-throw line.
Phoenix went just 13-of-18 from the line.
Gilgeous-Alexander made more free throws than the Suns by himself and nearly matched the attempts.
The Suns must take the first shot available because the next pass gives Oklahoma City time to recover and clamp on defense. Collin Gillespie noticeably passed up 3s.
They may wind up not being the best shot, but a shot at least gives Phoenix a chance to get an offensive rebound. Oso Ighodaro grabbed seven offensive boards by himself Sunday.
The Indiana Pacers executed this better than anyone last season against Oklahoma City in pushing the Thunder to a seventh game in last yearâs NBA Finals.
The Pacers played fast. Thatâs what the Suns want to do.
Getting stops will enable them to score in transition.
Stephen Curry said it felt like the Warriors were in a track meet Friday in Phoenix.
The Suns must create that tempo against Oklahoma City, but that only happens with defensive stops â some ending in steals â that lead to advantage transition basketball.
Injury update
Jordan Goodwin didnât play in the second half after aggravating his left calf in the first half.
Big loss. He came up huge in the play-in finale and had a career night in Phoenixâs win over Oklahoma City in January â 26 points (8-of-13 from 3).
Mark Williams missed a second straight game with left foot soreness. He had recently missed 15 straight games with left foot third metatarsal stress reaction.
Ott said Friday the Suns were waiting for inflammation to go down.
Then thereâs Grayson Allen, who was available for a second straight game with a left hamstring strain, but he didnât play again.
Ott keeps saying âall hands on deck,â but if Allen was healthy enough to play, youâd think heâd be on the floor.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin atdmrankin@gannett.comor contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at@DuaneRankin.
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