Oklahoma City made history, Boston relied on its depth, Cleveland’s bench came alive, and Golden State closed out a tight one. Here’s how the top seeds handled business to open their NBA Playoffs 2025 first-round series.
Thunder Humiliate Grizzlies in Record-Breaking Blowout
The Oklahoma City Thunder sent a thunderous message to the league with a 131-80 dismantling of the Memphis Grizzlies — the largest margin of victory ever in a Game 1 and the fifth-largest in NBA playoff history. What made it more stunning? Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an off night, scoring just 15 points.
It was a total team effort. Jalen Williams led the way with 20 points and 6 assists, while Aaron Wiggins came off the bench for 21 points. All five starters hit double figures in scoring, showcasing the depth and cohesion that earned OKC the top seed in the West.
Ja Morant scored 17 for Memphis, but the Grizzlies looked outclassed from the opening tip.
“We’ll never play that bad again,” Morant promised. But unless Memphis finds answers fast, this could be a short series.
Celtics Overcome Slow Start to Cruise Past Magic
The Boston Celtics shook off a sluggish first half to defeat the Orlando Magic 103-86, thanks to a dominant performance from Derrick White. The guard knocked down seven threes and finished with 30 points, sparking a second-half surge that put the game out of reach.
Jayson Tatum had a scary fall in the fourth quarter but returned to finish with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 16, and Payton Pritchard scored 19 off the bench in a complete team win.
Orlando, meanwhile, struggled to generate offense outside of Paolo Banchero’s 36 points and Franz Wagner’s 23. No other Magic player scored in double digits — a troubling sign for their chances moving forward.
Cavaliers Pull Away Late as Ty Jerome Shines in Debut
The Cleveland Cavaliers flexed their offensive firepower in a 121-100 win over the Miami Heat, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 30 points and a breakout performance from Ty Jerome. Jerome scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, helping Cleveland pull away after Miami kept things close through three quarters.
Cleveland started strong, dominated the paint early, then hit from outside once Miami adjusted. It was a complete showing from the East’s top seed, with Darius Garland also chipping in 28 points.
Miami’s defense, once elite down the stretch of the regular season, had no answers. Head coach Erik Spoelstra will need to make significant adjustments if the Heat hope to even the series.
Warriors Hold Off Rockets Rally in Defensive Grind
The Golden State Warriors survived a fourth-quarter surge from the Houston Rockets to take Game 1 with a 95-85 win. Stephen Curry led the way with 31 points, while Jimmy Butler added 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals in his first playoff game with the Warriors.
Houston cut a 23-point deficit to just three in the fourth quarter, but Golden State’s defense held firm. Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points, but Houston shot just 6-of-29 from three and 11-of-20 from the free-throw line — numbers that won’t win playoff games.
The Warriors’ composure and experience made the difference. Unless the Rockets clean up their execution, Golden State is in full control of the series.
The Takeaway
All four top seeds opened the playoffs with victories, but none made a louder statement than Oklahoma City. If the Grizzlies, Magic, Heat, or Rockets hope to keep their seasons alive, they’ll need to respond with urgency in Game 2.
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