Thunder roll past Suns, Pistons level series with Magic

April 23, 2026 / 7:30 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 120–107 to take a 2–0 lead in their NBA playoff series, while the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 98–83 to level their series at 1–1.

Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder charge

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points to lead Oklahoma City, with strong support from Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams before his injury scare. The Thunder extended their lead to as many as 26 points before closing out the win.

Suns fall short despite Brooks and Booker

Dillon Brooks scored 30 points and Devin Booker added 22 for Phoenix, but the Suns were unable to recover after falling behind early in the fourth quarter.

Pistons dominate second half to respond

In Detroit, Cade Cunningham’s 27 points and 11 assists helped the Pistons bounce back after their Game 1 loss, with a dominant third quarter proving decisive.

Strong defensive display seals win

Detroit’s defense set the tone with key blocks and intensity, holding Orlando to its lowest scoring total of the season and snapping a long home playoff losing streak dating back to 2008.