NBA Playoffs: Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Oklahoma City Thunder Secure Opening Wins
The NBA playoffs continued on Sunday, with several top teams securing crucial victories in their respective series. The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Oklahoma City Thunder all picked up wins, with the Thunder’s 51-point margin of victory over the Memphis Grizzlies being one of the largest in playoff history.
According to The Athletic, the Warriors secured a 95-85 win over the Houston Rockets, with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler leading the charge. Curry, who has played in 29 playoff series during his time with the Warriors, has now won a road game in 28 of them. He finished with a game-high 31 points, while Butler scored 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting in his Warriors playoff debut.
The Warriors’ victory was a testament to their strong defensive performance, which held the Rockets to 85 points on 39% shooting. The Rockets’ offense struggled to find any rhythm, with Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet combining for just 17 points on 6-for-32 shooting. As noted by The Athletic, the Rockets’ lack of a true go-to scorer put them at a disadvantage against the Warriors.
In another game, the Cleveland Cavaliers surged to a 121-100 win over the Miami Heat, with Ty Jerome starring down the stretch. Jerome, the Cavs’ sixth man, scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, helping his team build a comfortable lead. The Cavaliers’ top three guards – Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jerome – all had strong performances, with Mitchell and Garland scoring 30 and 27 points, respectively.
The Cavaliers’ win was a significant one, as they looked to make a statement in the series. As The Athletic noted, the Cavaliers’ dominance was on display, with their guard rotation proving to be too much for the Heat to handle.
The Oklahoma City Thunder also made a statement, with a 131-80 win over the Grizzlies. The Thunder led by as many as 56 points, with six players scoring in double digits, including Aaron Wiggins’ 21 points off the bench. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, struggled to find any rhythm, with star point guard Ja Morant being held to 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting.
The Thunder’s performance was one of the most dominant in playoff history, with their +12.9 point differential in the regular season setting an NBA record. As The Athletic noted, the Thunder’s victory was a near-historic performance that put the league on notice of their potential.
In other games, the Boston Celtics secured a 103-86 win over the Orlando Magic, despite struggling to find their outside shot. The Celtics’ defense was strong, holding the Magic to just 8-for-11 free throw shooting. The Magic, meanwhile, will look to find ways to get to the line and attack the rim in Game 2.
The NBA playoffs continue on Wednesday, with several crucial games on the schedule. The Warriors will look to take a 2-0 lead over the Rockets, while the Cavaliers and Thunder will aim to build on their momentum.
As reported by The Athletic, the NBA playoffs are heating up, with several top teams vying for a chance to win the championship. With strong performances from teams like the Warriors, Cavaliers, and Thunder, it’s shaping up to be an exciting postseason.
The playoff games with 50+ point margins are as follows:
| Margin | Winning team | Losing team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58 (121-63) | Denver Nuggets | New Orleans Hornets | April 27, 2009 |
| 58 (133-75) | Minneapolis Lakers | St. Louis Hawks | March 19, 1956 |
| 56 (126-70) | Los Angeles Lakers | Golden State Warriors | April 21, 1973 |
| 54 (120-66) | Chicago Bulls | Milwaukee Bucks | April 30, 2015 |
| 51 (131-80) | Oklahoma City Thunder | Memphis Grizzlies | April 20, 2025 |
| 50 (136-86) | Milwaukee Bucks | San Francisco Warriors | April 4, 1971 |
These statistics show that the Thunder’s 51-point margin of victory was one of the largest in playoff history.
In conclusion, the NBA playoffs are off to an exciting start, with several top teams securing crucial victories. The Warriors, Cavaliers, and Thunder are all looking strong, but there is still much to be decided. As The Athletic noted, the playoffs are a time of high stakes and intense competition, and teams will need to bring their A-game to succeed.
Sources: The Athletic
