Celtics, Thunder, Magic, and Spurs All Start 1-0 in First Round

The 2026 NBA Playoffs are officially here, and the opening night storylines are already wild. Four teams punched their tickets to the next round with Game 1 victories on Sunday, and the intensity is already ramping up across both conferences.

Magic Pull Off the Upset in the East

Orlando stunned Detroit in the Eastern Conference first round, stealing Game 1 behind a scrappy, ball-hawking performance. Jalen Suggs set the tone early, picking Cade Cunningham's pocket and converting it into a thunderous jam that got the entire arena on its feet. That kind of hustle from Suggs became the blueprint for how the Magic were going to play defense all night.

The Pistons had their moments, too. Cunningham threw a pinpoint pass that set up a dunk, and the interior defense showed up with some impressive blocks from Jalen Duren using his fingertips and Isaiah Stewart making emphatic rejections at the rim. But it wasn't enough to overcome Orlando's energy. The Magic are now up 1-0 and heading home with momentum.

Thunder and Spurs Dominate the West

Out west, Oklahoma City and San Antonio both rolled to convincing wins. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came up with a great block as the Thunder's defense took over, keeping everything under control in their dominant effort. Meanwhile, the Spurs got a statement performance from Victor Wembanyama in his first playoff game, dropping 35 points to top Duncan's playoff debut standard and announce himself as a force on the biggest stage.

Both teams looked sharp and composed. This is the kind of opening round execution that tells you a lot about a team's ceiling in April.

Celtics Set the Tone in Boston

Boston absolutely demolished their opponent in a way that hasn't been seen in team playoff history. Jayson Tatum led the way, and the Celtics delivered the largest blowout in a playoff opener in franchise history. That's the kind of statement win that sets the tone for an entire playoff run.

With all four of these teams sitting at 1-0, the pressure is now on their opponents to respond in Game 2. The playoffs are officially here, and the intensity is only going to get higher from here.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.