Jalen Green’s eyebrows dipped toward NBA official Marc Davis as the first-quarter buzzer sounded.
Moments later, Devin Booker joined the discussion, and frustration began to simmer. The physical play of the Thunder defensively began to take its toll while Phoenix was also upset with the lack of calls on its own end.
But none of it caught Green off guard. Not in April.
“They’re a physical team — they’re very physical,” Green said. “I got to play them last year. Same physicality. We’ve got to be able to take that pressure and create off it.”
The OKC Thunder dismantled the Phoenix Suns 119-84 in Game 1 to take a 1-0 series lead on Sunday night at Paycom Center.
REPORT CARD: Chet Holmgren, Thunder bigs set tone for NBA Playoffs in smashing Suns in Game 1
Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) signs shoes before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) signs a toy before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Fans wait to have items signed before Game 1 of their the round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Phoenix guard Devin Booker (1) walks into the arena before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Oklahoma City guard Jalen Williams (8) walks in the arena before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) walks in the arena before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.1 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) signs shoes before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.1 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) signs shoes before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.2 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) signs a toy before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.3 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Fans wait to have items signed before Game 1 of their the round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.4 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.5 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.6 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.7 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.8 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Fans take their seats before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.9 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Phoenix guard Devin Booker (1) walks into the arena before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.10 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Oklahoma City guard Jalen Williams (8) walks in the arena before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.11 / 11Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs Game 1Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) walks in the arena before Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 19, 2026.Booker led the Suns with 23 points and six rebounds, while Green chipped in with 17 points and five rebounds in the loss. Game 1 marked Green’s first crack at OKC since landing in Phoenix as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Durant to Houston last summer.
Green’s early takeaways from Sunday? Rebounding and whistles.
“I feel like there was a couple bad calls with how we’re gonna be playing in the playoffs,” Green said.
“And with how the refs allow them to play, I think it's gotta be both ways. Or just call the same foul both ways. One or the other. It's the playoffs. You want to be aggressive at the end of the day.”
The Thunder smothered Phoenix from the opening tip, cutting off Booker’s preferred mid-range looks and blowing up plays before they could develop. Lu Dort’s burly frame and choppy defense — per usual — was at the center of it.
Phoenix turned it over 19 times and OKC turned those mistakes into 34 points. But ball security wasn’t the only issue.
TAKEAWAYS: OKC Thunder flexes muscles in Game 1 rout vs Suns to start NBA Playoff run
Jalen Green on the Thunder’s physicality and what Phoenix will have to do in order to respond in Game 2. pic.twitter.com/OHRJrdubzk
Without starting big Mark Williams (left foot soreness), the Suns had no answer for OKC’s size. The duo of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein controlled the interior, overwhelming Phoenix on both ends.
“I think it's a team thing for sure,” Suns big man Oso Ighodaro said. “All of us, including myself, can be more physical on those guys.”
Sunday served as Ighodaro’s playoff debut. He grabbed nine rebounds while going scoreless.
“We’ve just got to rebound — us five," Ighodaro said. "That's what they did as a team, so we've got to mesh that. Move on as fast as possible, learn from that game and be ready to go out there and compete.”
OKC dominated the paint 52-24 and dictated every possession with its size, speed and pressure. Even past success offered little comfort.
Phoenix went 1-3 against the Thunder in the regular season, with its lone win coming when it flipped the rebounding margin in January. That formula never showed up Sunday.