Monday, April 20, 2026

NBA Playoffs: Celtics, Thunder, Magic, Spurs Take Conference Quarterfinal Series Openers

The NBA Playoffs continued on Sunday with four games.


EASTERN CONFERENCE: 


At TD Garden, Boston:  


Jaylen Brown scored 26 points while Jayson Tatum added 25 as the Boston Celtics, with six players (including all five starters) scoring in double-digits, manhandled the visiting Philadelphia 76 123-91 in the opening game of their conference quarterfinal series.


Tyrese Maxey paced the Sixers with 21 points.


At Little Caesars Arena, Detroit:


Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Orlando Magic with all five starters scoring in double-figures upended the homestanding Detroit Pistons 112-101 in their conference quarterfinal series opener and seized home-court advantage as a result.


Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 39 points.




WESTERN CONFERENCE:


At the Paycom Center, Oklahoma City:


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points while Jalen Williams added 24 as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their NBA Title defense with a 119-84 home fistbeating of the Phoenix Suns in game one of their conference quarterfinal series.


The Suns were led by Devin Booker's 23 points.


At Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas:


Victor Wembanyama scored 36 points as the San Antonio Spurs got the measure of the visiting Portland Trail Blazers in their conference quarterfinal series opener, 111-99.


Deni Avdija paced the Blazers with 30 points plus ten rebounds.

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