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Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Thunder-Suns clash in OKC

Welcome to the second day of the 2026 NBA Playoffs! We've got four series tipping off, starting with Celtics-76ers at 1 ET on ABC.

The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Phoenix Suns to open their first round series today on ABC. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from Sunday’s action.

We’ve got a quadruple-header as the rest of our series get underway!

The slate opens with 76ers-Celtics (1 ET) and Suns-Thunder (3:30 ET) on ABC, followed by Magic-Pistons (6:30 ET) and Trail Blazers-Spurs (9 ET) on NBC.

Sunday’s finals

Celtics 123, 76ers 91 (BOS leads 1-0)

Suns @ Thunder – Watch

What we know about Sunday’s games:

  • The Celtics and Sixers are the most familiar opponents in NBA history. They’ve played 116 times across their storied history — Boston’s up 66-50 in the series.
  • NBA teams that win Game 1 in the NBA Playoffs have gone on to win the series 77.8% of the time.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 5:45 ET

Thunder up 31 heading to 4Q

It’s been a dominant showing to open the 2026 NBA Playoffs for the Thunder, as they take a 97-66 lead over the Suns as we head to the fourth quarter. OKC is shooting 46% from the field while limiting Phoenix to just 34% overall.

The star trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 pts, 7 ast, 3 blk), Jalen Williams (18 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) and Chet Holmgren (16 pts, 7 reb, 2 stl, 2 blk) lead the way for OKC.

Devin Booker (23 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast) and Dillon Brooks (16 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast) are the offensive engines for Phoenix, but they have a lot of ground to cover over the final 12 minutes if they want to be the first road squad to earn a victory this postseason.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 3:40 ET

Celtics dominate to take 1-0 lead

This 32-point victory marked Boston’s largest margin of victory to open the playoffs in franchise history. Joe Mazzulla’s squad put together a complete performance to take all the momentum in this series. Boston poured in 16 threes, four times as many as Philadelphia who finished just 17.4% from behind the arc.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 3:10 ET

Seeing green ☘️

Philadelphia was unable to shrink the halftime deficit in the third quarter, as the gap actually widened after another 12 minutes of play.

Paul George added to his decorated resume with a second-half triple. He passed Paul Pierce on the all-time postseason rankings for made three. He now sits behind former Laker Derek Fisher.

Jaylen Brown is continuing his high level of play from the regular season. He has 26 points through 30 minutes of action as his team is up big late.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 2:25 ET

Back like he never left 🔥

Jayson Tatum was remarkable in the first half, ending with 21 point, 8 rebounds and five assists. It’s hard to imagine that he tore his achilles less than one year ago with the way he looks today.

The rest of Tatum’s team is following suit, resulting in an 18-point advantage at halftime. Philadelphia is searching for answers on both ends of the court. The 76ers are shooting 33.3% from the field, and only Tyrese Maxey is in double figures so far with 14 points.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 1:49 ET

Boston grabs double-digit lead

The first bit of separation settled in late in the first quarter as Boston continued to be active on defense and score in transition. The 76ers have seven turnovers, as the second quarter gets going. Meanwhile, the Celtics are turning those extra possessions into high-quality looks.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 1:38 ET

Sixers foul trouble early

Andre Drummond and Adem Bona have two fouls each, and there’s still several minutes to play in the opening quarter. Philadelphia is without Joel Embiid as well, forcing Head Coach Nick Nurse to go small early on.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 1:20 ET

9-1 C’s run, timeout Philly

Boston started clicking on both ends following z Paul George free throw that tied this one at six-apiece. The Celtics embarked on a 9-1 run to follow.

APRIL 19, 2026 / 12:30 ET

Starting Lineups: Celtics-76ers, Game 1

VJ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers face the Boston Celtics to open Sunday’s action on ABC.

Philadelphia:

  • PG Tyrese Maxey (31.2 ppg, 7.2 ast)
  • SG VJ Edgecombe (18.6 ppg, 6.8 reb)
  • SF Kelly Oubre Jr. (15.7 ppg, 5.6 reb)
  • PF Paul George (21.4 ppg, 6.6 reb)
  • C Andre Drummond (9.7 ppg, 12.5 reb)

Boston:

  • PG Derrick White (17.9 ppg, 5.9 ast)
  • SG Jaylen Brown (32.0 ppg, 8.0 reb)
  • SF Sam Hauser (9.2 ppg, 39.3% on 6.5 3PA)
  • PF Jayson Tatum (25.6 ppg, 11.8 reb)
  • C Neemias Queta (11.7 ppg, 9.6 reb)

APRIL 19, 2026 / 12:15 ET

Today’s injury report

Joel Embiid is out, while Tyrese Maxey is available for the 76ers.

Grayson Allen and Mark Williams are questionable for the Suns.

Desmond Bane is probable for the Magic, while Wendell Carter Jr. is available and Jonathan Isaac is questionable.

Jordan McLaughlin is out for the Trail Blazers.

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