04/19/26 06:03:00
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04/19 18:02 CDT Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 as reigning champion Thunder open
playoffs with 119-84 win over Suns
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 as reigning champion Thunder open playoffs with
119-84 win over Suns
By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) --- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the
Oklahoma City Thunder began their title defense with a 119-84 rout of the
Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series
on Sunday.
The reigning league MVP made just 5 of 18 field goals but went 15 of 17 at the
foul line before sitting out the fourth quarter.
Jalen Williams scored 22 points and Chet Holmgren added 16 for the top-seeded
Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
Devin Booker scored 23 points and Dillon Brooks scored 18 on 6-of-22 shooting
for the Suns, who shot 34.9% from the field. Jalen Green, who scored 35 and 36
points in Phoenix's two play-in games, had 17 on 6-for-16 shooting.
It was the third straight year that the Thunder earned the top seed and had to
wait through the play-in tournament to learn their first-round opponent. Two
seasons ago, Oklahoma City beat New Orleans 94-92 in Game 1. Last year, the
Thunder routed Memphis 131-80 in Game 1 on their way to the title.
Phoenix claimed the No. 8 seed by defeating the Golden State Warriors on Friday
night. The Suns took an early 5-0 lead Sunday as the Thunder started cold
following a week off.
The Thunder heated up quickly. Brooks was called for a flagrant-one foul in the
first quarter for hitting Holmgren in the face. The Thunder went on a 12-2
surge after that to take a 24-14 lead.
In the closing seconds of the quarter, Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams threw a
pass about three-quarters of the length of the court. Holmgren caught it with
his back to the basket, took one dribble to his right, then turned and drained
a 3-pointer as time expired to put Oklahoma City up 35-20.
Oklahoma City extended the advantage to 65-44 at halftime. Holmgren had 16
points and Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 at the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander converted a three-point play to push Oklahoma City's lead to
90-63 late in the third quarter, and the Thunder took a 97-66 edge into the
fourth.
Nine Oklahoma City players saw at least 13 minutes of action.
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