Wembanyama Stars For Spurs As Thunder And Celtics Win

Victor Wembanyama starred connected his NBA play-off debut arsenic nan San Antonio Spurs hit nan Portland Trail Blazers 111-98.

Wembanyama, 1 of 3 contenders for nan Most Valuable Player award, scored a game-high 35 points, including 21 successful nan first half, arsenic nan Spurs won crippled 1 of nan best-of-seven series.

"It's bully to get this 1 retired of nan way," nan Frenchman said. "We conscionable tried to do nan things we've been doing each twelvemonth and enactment solid.

"There was unit connected america to triumph nan first game, but it wasn't that overmuch unit if we conscionable stayed to nan plan."

Elsewhere, defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder and nan Boston Celtics some made ascendant starts to nan post-season.

The Thunder - nan number 1 seeds successful nan Western Conference - thrashed nan Phoenix Suns 119-84, led by past year's Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who had 25 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds.

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points pinch 11 rebounds and 7 assists - and Jaylen Brown added 26 points - arsenic nan second-seeded Celtics hit nan Philadelphia 76ers 123-91.

Meanwhile, nan Orlando Magic stunned Eastern Conference apical seeds Detroit Pistons 112-101 to return a 1-0 lead successful their seven-game series.

Victory for nan eighth-seeded Magic, who qualified for nan play-offs via nan play-in tournament, extends an unwelcome NBA grounds for nan Pistons, who person not won a post-season crippled astatine location for 11 matches making love backmost to 2008.

Forward Paolo Banchero starred pinch 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, to thief nan Magic overshadow Pistons constituent defender Cade Cunningham's play-off champion haul of 39 points.

"[We] didn't travel retired pinch nan correct energy, gave them life early on," said Cunningham. "Then we had to woody pinch that for nan remainder of nan game.

"There's nary assurance driblet from us. It's going to beryllium a long, nosy series."