NBA playoffs 2026 takeaways: Pistons disappear against Magic; Wemby dominates; Thunder roll to begin title defense; Jayson Tatum stars in Celtics' big win

Key Points:

• Magic defeated Pistons 112-101, with Orlando dominating inside scoring and Wendell Carter Jr. outplaying Detroit's Jalen Duren, who struggled offensively and defensively. Orlando's balanced team effort and aggressive attack mode led to 44 made field goals and 26 assists.
• Spurs won 111-98 over Trail Blazers, highlighted by Victor Wembanyama's 35 points and strong rim protection, setting a franchise record for a playoff debut. Stephon Castle's playmaking and San Antonio's dominance in the paint exposed Portland's poor 3-point shooting (26.3%) and limited floor spacing.
• Thunder routed Suns 119-84, fueled by suffocating defense that limited Phoenix to 24 points in the paint and only two fast-break points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled shooting but contributed through playmaking, while Oklahoma City's team defense disrupted Phoenix's offensive rhythm.
• Celtics cruised past 76ers 123-91, with Jayson Tatum scoring 25 points and leading with all-around excellence in his playoff return from injury. Philadelphia was hampered by Joel Embiid's absence due to an appendectomy, resulting in poor pick-and-roll defense and limited offensive cohesion against Boston's versatile attack.