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Gilgeous-Alexander Scores 25 as Reigning Champion Thunder Open Playoffs with 119-84 Win over Suns
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points as Oklahoma City built a 31-point halftime lead and held Phoenix to 84 points.
- On Sunday, April 19, 2026, the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder opened their title defense with a 119-84 victory over the Phoenix Suns at the Paycom Center, marking their third consecutive postseason opener win.
- Forcing 19 turnovers, the Thunder capitalized with 34 points off those miscues while the Suns struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3% from the floor in a difficult first quarter.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 22 and Chet Holmgren added 16, with Devin Booker's 23 points pacing the Suns in the loss.
- Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault praised the team's defensive effort but warned, "we're going to face a rested, hungry team on Wednesday," while Suns coach Jordan Ott said they must "value the ball."
- The teams return to the Paycom Center for Game 2 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as Oklahoma City seeks to extend momentum while Phoenix attempts to adjust after being limited to 84 points.
44 Articles
44 Articles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals True Feelings About Getting Free Throws
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got candid about getting to the free-throw line after the OKC Thunder blew out the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday. In the game, Gilgeous-Alexander shot 17 free throws, and 15 of them as the Thunder took control early and never looked back to beat the Suns, 119-84. Gilgeous-Alexander attributed his knack for earning refereesâ calls and free throws to his frequency of drives to the basket…
Oklahoma defeats Finiks' team 119:84, and the first round of the playoffs is over.
Thunder take Game 1, expect Suns 'to get better'
The Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA's defending champions and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, opened their latest postseason run Sunday afternoon with a dominant 119-84 performance at the Paycom Center over the Phoenix Suns.
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