Thunder sweep Suns in first round of NBA playoffs
WASHINGTON, United States — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder swept into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Monday (Tuesday Manila time) with a 131-122 victory at Phoenix.
The top-seeded Thunder captured the Western Conference first round best-of-seven series 4-0, completing a third consecutive sweep in the opening round.
"We just came in ready," said Gilgeous-Alexander. "Love to play basketball, a group full of great kids that have fun together.
"We do it for each other. None of us are selfish. We all want the next man to succeed and when you have those three things and put them together you get success."
Oklahoma City will meet either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets in a second-round series. The Lakers lead that matchup 3-1.
"Ultimately, we've got to get better in the days between our next opponent," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
The Thunder became the first team to reach the second round on the same night the upstart Orlando Magic pushed Eastern Conference top seed Detroit to the brink of elimination with a 94-88 triumph to seize a 3-1 series advantage.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player who had a playoff career high 42 points in a game three victory, added eight assists to spark a visiting Thunder squad that boasts the top post-season scoring attack and defensive statistics.
Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, who also had 22 points from Ajay Mitchell and 18 points and 12 rebounds from Isaiah Hartenstein.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 24 points.
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