Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his playoff debut as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Washington Wizards 111-98 in Game 1. Luke Kennard added 27 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in their win over the Houston Rockets, while Donovan Mitchell tallied 32 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Toronto Raptors. Jayson Tatum and Cade Cunningham also delivered strong showings in their respective games.
In the Spurs' 111-98 victory over the Wizards, Victor Wembanyama erupted for 35 points on 13-of-21 shooting, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, setting a Spurs playoff debut scoring record ahead of Tim Duncan's 32 points from 1998. He also blocked shots, deterred drives with his defense, and capped plays with powerful alley-oop dunks. Teammate Stephon Castle supported with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, giving San Antonio a 1-0 series lead.
For the Lakers, Luke Kennard scored 27 points in their win over the Rockets, with Coach JJ Redick featuring him heavily. LeBron James contributed 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block. Kennard said, 'It's everybody continuing to build confidence in me to be aggressive and look for my shot whenever I can… When I see space and the rim, I'm going to look to get it up.'
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 32 points in their matchup against the Raptors, while Jayson Tatum and Cade Cunningham shone brightly in their games, underscoring the high level of play across the playoff openers.
