Paolo Banchero collected 23 points and nine rebounds as the visiting Orlando Magic never trailed in upsetting the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 112-101 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday.
Every Magic starter scored at least 16 points. Franz Wagner supplied 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while Wendell Carter Jr. and Desmond Bane each contributed 17 points and five assists. Jalen Suggs had 16 points, four assists and three steals.
The Pistons have lost 11 straight playoff home games dating back to the 2008 Eastern Conference finals.
Cade Cunningham carried Detroit with 39 points. Tobias Harris was the only other Piston in double figures with 17 points. All-Star center Jalen Duren attempted only four shots in 33 minutes while being held to eight points and seven rebounds. Orlando shot 48.9% from the field while limiting Detroit to 40.3% shooting.
Thunder 119, Suns 84
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points to pace Oklahoma City to a blowout of visiting Phoenix in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.
Gilgeous-Alexander was just 5 of 18 from the field but went 15 of 17 from the free-throw line and had a game-high seven assists. Jalen Williams added 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in just 29 minutes while Chet Holmgren contributed 16 points.
The Suns, who shot just 34.9% from the field, were led by Devin Booker’s 23 points. Dillon Brooks added 18 and Jalen Green 17. The Thunder scored 34 points off 19 Phoenix turnovers.
Celtics 123, 76ers 91
Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston over visiting Philadelphia in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Sam Hauser made 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point range to add 12 points for the second-seeded Celtics, who never trailed. Neemias Queta was in foul trouble for much of the game but scored 13 points in 15 minutes of playing time.
Seventh-seeded Philadelphia received 21 points with eight assists from Tyrese Maxey and 17 from Paul George. The 76ers shot 38.9% from the floor, including 4 of 23 (17.4%) from 3-point territory. Philadelphia also committed 15 turnovers, which helped Boston hold a 22-3 edge in points off turnovers.
Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Victor Wembanyama hit for 35 points in his postseason debut as host San Antonio Spurs outlasted Portland in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Wembanyama broke Tim Duncan’s franchise record (32 in 1998) for points in a playoff debut. He led all first-half scorers with 21 points — a league record for most in the first half of an NBA playoff debut going back to 1997, the start of the play-by-play era. Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox added 17 points apiece for the Spurs, with Devin Vassell scoring 15 and Luke Kornet hitting for 10.
Deni Avdija racked up 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Trail Blazers. Scoot Henderson scored 18, Robert Williams III had 11, Shaedon Sharpe hit for 10 and Jrue Holiday distributed 11 assists along with nine points.
