San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama set a franchise file in his playoff debut, powering his aspect previous the Portland Path Blazers in a 35-point efficiency that has consultants labelling the 7-foot-4 phenom “unfair”.
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Learn on for a full NBA playoffs wrap!
‘UNFAIR’: WEMBY MAKES STATEMENT IN PLAYOFFS DEBUT
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama delivered a historic playoff debut in Sport 1 of a 111–98 win over the Portland Path Blazers, surpassing franchise legend Tim Duncan’s rookie postseason mark of 31 factors set in 1998.
Duncan, alongside Spurs nice David Robinson, was in attendance to witness the standout efficiency.
Wembanyama completed with 35 factors, 5 rebounds and two blocks in a commanding show because the San Antonio Spurs secured a playoff victory.
It marked the franchise’s first postseason win for the reason that 2018–19 season, coming in a convincing outcome over the seventh-seeded Portland Path Blazers.
Final season’s Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Fortress added 17 factors and 7 assists in his playoff debut, whereas veteran guard De’Aaron Fox, taking part in his first postseason recreation since 2023, contributed 17 factors, 5 rebounds and eight assists.
Wembanyama’s first-ever playoff basket got here in typical style, highlighting his extraordinary size and athleticism, and setting the tone for what seems to be like the beginning of a protracted postseason scoring run in his profession.
The 22-year-old continues to lift the bar, and regardless of his once-in-a-generation expertise, he retains shocking followers and consultants along with his fluid motion and highlight-reel performs for a 7-foot-4 participant, together with a transition sequence that had analysts calling him “unfair”.
REIGNING CHAMPS STRIKE FIRST AFTER ‘FOUL BAITERS’ CLAIM
The reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, have opened their title defence in fashion, cruising previous the Phoenix Suns 119-84 in Sport 1 of their first-round collection, a playoff matchup not seen since 1997.
Pre-game stress was already constructing, largely pushed by Dillon Brooks, who took purpose on the Thunder within the lead-up.
Talking after a win over the Golden State Warriors, Brooks didn’t maintain again.
“There are a variety of foul baiters on that staff,” he stated, shortly casting himself because the collection villain.
He carried that edge into tip-off, even snubbing Thunder star Chet Holmgren throughout pre-game routines in an early try and get beneath his pores and skin.
On the court docket, although, it was one-way site visitors.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and Finals MVP, led the way in which with 25 factors. It was an uncommon taking pictures night time, simply 5-of-18 from the sphere, however he made it depend on the line, hitting 15 of 17 free throws. He added seven assists and two blocks earlier than sitting out your entire fourth quarter, ending with simply 29 minutes.
Jalen Williams chipped in 22 factors, whereas Holmgren added 16, as Oklahoma Metropolis took full management early and by no means regarded again. The Thunder are chasing back-to-back titles, one thing final achieved by the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
Brooks’ night time took one other flip within the first quarter when he was hit with a flagrant foul on Holmgren following a video evaluate, with officers ruling the contact pointless.
From there, the Thunder tightened their grip. Roared on by a vigorous crowd at Paycom Middle, they constructed a lead as giant as 25 within the first half, stretched it to 21 by the break, and pushed it out to 39 within the fourth.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 23 factors, however the Suns, who battled by way of the play-in to safe the eighth seed, had no solutions for a Thunder aspect that completed the common season with a league-best 64 wins.
“It was an ideal defensive efficiency,” coach Mark Daigneault stated.
“I assumed the fellows had been actually aggressive, performed on a string, nice communication, coated for one another. It wasn’t excellent, however we had one another’s backs.
“We compelled them to earn all the pieces.”
The Thunder will look to take a commanding 2-0 lead once they host Sport 2 of the best-of-seven collection on Wednesday.
FIRST BIG PLAYOFFS SHOCK AS PISTONS STUNNED BY MAGIC
Whereas the well-rested Thunder got here out firing, the Pistons regarded rusty after having per week off and the Magic, who beat Charlotte to safe their playoff spot, took full benefit.
Paolo Banchero scored 23 factors and Franz Wagner scored 11 of his 19 within the fourth quarter because the Magic withstood a 39-point efficiency from Pistons star Cade Cunningham.
Detroit trailed by as many as 13 within the first quarter and by 11 early within the third. A Cunningham three-pointer tied it with 7:04 left within the third, however the Magic pulled away once more.
“I appreciated our composure the entire recreation, our power,” Wagner stated after the Magic handed the Pistons an eleventh straight dwelling playoff defeat, a skid courting again to 2008.
2024 CHAMPIONS FLEX THEIR MUSCLE IN DOMINANT GAME 1 WIN
In Boston, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown mixed for 51 factors because the Boston Celtics went wire to wire in a dominant 123–91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
The star duo capitalised on Philadelphia’s poor taking pictures to ship the Celtics’ largest margin of victory in a playoff opener.
Tatum set the tone early, piling up 10 factors, six rebounds and three assists within the first quarter as Boston surged to a 33–18 lead on the break. Brown then took over within the third, pouring in 16 factors to place the outcome past doubt.
Paul George and Tyrese Maxey mixed for 38 factors for the Philadelphia 76ers, taking pictures 12-of-28 from the sphere, however their struggles from past the arc proved pricey.
Philadelphia hit simply 4-of-23 from three-point vary, a poor 17 per cent, and completed the sport taking pictures 38 per cent general, leaving them chasing the competition from begin to end.
In a brilliant spot, rookie V. J. Edgecombe impressed in his playoff debut, posting 13 factors, three rebounds and three assists throughout 34 minutes.
There was a short second of frustration when veteran referee Scott Foster, reviewing a possible flagrant foul, snapped at recreation operators to “do your job”.
With the sport effectively in hand, each Tatum and Brown spent many of the fourth quarter on the bench, conserving power forward of Tuesday’s second recreation earlier than the collection shifts to Philadelphia.
The outcome provides one other chapter to one of many NBA’s longest rivalries. Boston has now received six straight playoff collection in opposition to the Sixers, a run that dates again to the 1985 Japanese Convention Finals.
Tatum, taking part in his first postseason since recovering from a torn Achilles almost a yr in the past, confirmed no indicators of rust. He completed with 25 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, underlining why many see Boston as a real title contender.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Tatum stated. “Not too way back I wasn’t even certain if I used to be going to play this season, not to mention the playoffs.
“Immediately was most likely probably the most excited, relaxed and grateful I’ve felt in my 9 years within the playoffs.”