Shai and the Thunder are very scary in their first playoff game
Absolute dominance in the game against a Phoenix Suns team that couldn't offer any opposition to Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Thunder started the playoffs like a cyclone. The reigning champion left no chance for the Phoenix Suns and secured a resounding 119-84 victory in the first game of the series, held at the Paycom Center. A start reminiscent of last season when Oklahoma also began their title campaign with a similar beating.
The domination was absolute from the early minutes. After a brief initial 0-5 from Phoenix, the Thunder took control and never let go. By the end of the first quarter, they were already leading by 15 points, a lead that extended to 21 at halftime and reached 31 by the end of the third period. The final quarter was a formality.
The team once again relied on its main hallmark: defense. Oklahoma City, which has led the league in this category in the last two regular seasons, dismantled their opponent through turnovers. The Thunder turned 19 Suns turnovers into 34 points, with a devastating 34-2 advantage in that area.
Devin Booker acknowledged the impact of that factor in the game: “I'm sure they take the regular season seriously, but they feel like this is the time of year. They're trying to do it again. We can't turn the ball over on every possession. That feeds into everything: them, the crowd. It becomes a domino effect”.
The collective performance was outstanding, with Jalen Williams as one of the team leaders (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists). The forward explained the group's approach: “It's not about coming into the first game thinking about winning in a blowout. It's more like: ‘How hard can we play to set the tone?’. For us, not for the Suns. We want to set a standard of what is expected from the first to the last player”.
Also shining was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, who finished with 25 points and 7 assists despite not having his best shooting night (5 for 18) and sitting out the final quarter. The Canadian guard focused on what lies ahead: “They are a bit more tired, so that probably has something to do with it. But we have to do our job and go out to win. This team will improve throughout the series. They have good players, they are well-coached, they play hard and the right way. We have to be prepared to improve as well and expect a better version of the opponent”.
Challenges for the Suns
On the Phoenix side, Jordan Ott pointed out the issues with the ball: “Every time you play against them, you have to take care of the ball, treasure each possession, and at least get a shot off, and we didn't. Their physicality, athleticism, size, length, and roster force you to make good decisions constantly and quickly. It's something we have to correct”.
The circumstances didn't favor the Suns, who entered the game after securing their playoff spot in the play-in and with little rest time before facing the best team in the regular season. Nevertheless, the gap seen on the court was too significant.
Oklahoma City, just like last year, has issued a strong warning with this emphatic victory. The champion defends its crown with the same formula that led them to the title: suffocating defense, high tempo, and a squad depth that makes a difference from the opening tip-off.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shai y los Thunder meten mucho miedo en su primer partido de playoffs
