Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his playoff debut as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98 in Game 1 of their first-round series. The eighth-seeded Orlando Magic pulled off the biggest upset by beating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons at home. Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder also secured blowout victories in their openers.
Victor Wembanyama set a Spurs playoff debut record with 35 points on 13-of-21 shooting, surpassing Tim Duncan's 33 from 1998. He made five of six 3-pointers, blocked shots, and finished three alley-oop dunks, establishing himself as the best player on the court. Spurs second-year wing Stephon Castle added 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in the 111-98 victory over the Trail Blazers. The Spurs led the league in corner 3-point attempts during the regular season due to Wembanyama's rim gravity on offense and defense alike. The Orlando Magic stunned the No. 1 Detroit Pistons in Game 1 in Detroit, showcasing elite defense with a 81.2 points-per-100-plays allowed rating, their seventh-best of the season. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 39 points in his fourth game back from a collapsed lung, but supporting players struggled: Jalen Duren scored eight points on four shots, Ausar Thompson played limited minutes, and Daniss Jenkins went 1-for-7. The Magic, peaking defensively after key players returned from injury, matched the Pistons' physicality. Jayson Tatum returned from an Achilles injury suffered last May, posting 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals on 9-of-17 shooting in Boston's 32-point rout of the Philadelphia 76ers. Tatum said, Not too long ago, I wasn't even sure if I was gonna be able to play this season, let alone get an opportunity to play in the playoffs. Jalen Williams contributed 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for the Thunder in their blowout over the Phoenix Suns, where Devin Booker scored 23 and Jalen Green added 17 but the rest of the roster shot poorly.
