Victor Wembanyama made an immediate impact on his NBA play-off debut, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of their best-of-seven series. The French star delivered a standout performance, finishing with a game-high 35 points, including an impressive 21 in the first half.
The 21-year-old, who is among the leading contenders for the NBA Most Valuable Player award, showed composure under pressure in his first post-season appearance. He credited his team’s consistency and structure throughout the season, noting that sticking to their game plan helped them manage the intensity of the play-offs despite the expectations surrounding the opener.
Across the league, defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder also made a strong statement, overpowering the Phoenix Suns 119-84. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with a complete performance, contributing across scoring, playmaking, and rebounds as the Thunder controlled the game from start to finish.
The Boston Celtics also began their play-off campaign in dominant fashion, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 51 points, supported by strong all-round contributions that ensured a comfortable opening win for the second seeds in the Eastern Conference.
In one of the day’s biggest surprises, the Orlando Magic stunned top-seeded Detroit Pistons 112-101. Powered by Paolo Banchero’s all-round display, the Magic took a 1-0 series lead despite Cade Cunningham producing a career-best 39 points in a losing effort.
Cunningham admitted his team started poorly and allowed Orlando to build early momentum, which they struggled to recover from. However, he insisted there was no loss of belief within the Pistons camp, promising a competitive and extended series ahead.
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