LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Oklahoma City Thunder destroyed the Memphis Grizzlies, 131-80, in the most lopsided game-one win in National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff history on Sunday as reigning champions Boston, Cleveland and Golden State opened the post-season with victories.
The Celtics, fueled by 30 points from Derrick White, defeated Orlando Magic, 103-86.
The Cavaliers, who beat out the Celtics for top seed in the Eastern Conference, downed Miami Heat, 121-100, and the Warriors, with 31 points from Stephen Curry, fended off a late Houston surge to beat the Rockets 95-85.
Oklahoma City, who emerged as top seeds in the Western Conference with the best overall record in the league, seized a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series in emphatic style.
The Thunder’s 51-point margin of victory was even more remarkable given that Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his statistically worst performance of the season — managing just 15 points, five assists and three rebounds.
But all of Oklahoma City’s starters scored in double figures with Jalen Williams providing 20 points along with six assists and Aaron Wiggins contributing 21 points off the bench.
The win was the fifth largest ever in NBA playoff history and also a franchise record.
“We played to our identity,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“It’s going to be the key to our success -- just be the true who we are.”
Grizzlies star Ja Morant finished with 17 points and vowed Memphis — who battled through the play-in tournament — would bounce back.
“We’ll never play that bad again,” Morant said.
Things were tense in the day’s other Western Conference battle in Houston, where the Rockets sliced a 23-point deficit to three midway through the fourth quarter before the Warriors pulled away again to win.
‘It’s going to be the key to our success — just be the true who we are.’
Curry shook off a slow start to connect on 12 of 19 shots from the floor, including five three-pointers. Jimmy Butler added 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals for the Warriors.
“Stayed in it,” Butler said.
“Gave up a little run, but in the end, we won.”
In Boston, star forward Jayson Tatum scored a modest 17 points and finished the game despite a frightening fall under the basket in the fourth quarter that left him nursing a sore right wrist.
Tatum rose for a dunk and crashed to the court after he was hit by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was assessed a flagrant foul upon review.