Sporting Zealot

[StatMuse @statmuse]

Shai in Game 1:

25 PTS
7 AST
0 TOV
2 BLK

and he only had to play 3 quarters.

[Josue Pavón @Joe_Sway]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addresses the significance of a Thunder playoff win on the 31-year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing: “That’s on top of everyone’s minds waking up in Oklahoma this morning. We just try to go out there and compete.

Give them a show to take their mind off the tragedy. Give them something to be happy about today”

[Hoop Central @TheHoopCentral]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander today:

25 Points
7 Assists
4 Rebounds
5/18 FGM
0/4 3PM
15/17 FTM
29 Minutes

[Hater Report @HaterReport]

Jalen Green says the Thunder get an unfair whistle from the refs:

"I feel like there's a couple bad calls for how we're gonna be playing in the playoffs and how the refs allowed them to play I think it got to be both ways”

(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)

[NBABase @TheNBABase]

Josh Smith, Stephen A. Smith’s nephew, says he was once kicked off the court for trolling Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown

"Jayson Tatum is shooting around... and every time he shoots, I'm like, 'Miss.' He got me removed like, 'Yo, this guy is making mad noise.' Jaylen Brown shooting around—miss—doing the same thing to him. So they told me I can't be on the court. Move me up."

(Via DOUBL3 COVERAGE)

[Skip Bayless @RealSkipBayless]

Wemby was unsurprisingly dominant in his first playoff game with 35 points and his towering defensive presence. But Portland has a shot at winning a couple if it shoots better than 10-38 from 3 ... compared to 15-33 for the Spurs. Simple as that.

[Real App @realapp]

Jayson Tatum is the youngest player in NBA playoff history to reach 2,500 PTS & 1,000 REB.

[Legion Hoops @LegionHoops]

Victor Wembanyama on if he felt the weight of Spurs legends like Tim Duncan in the building watching him tonight:

“I wouldn't say, weight, no, I would say, I feel safe. Feels like if you trip, you know there's a lot of hands that are ready to catch you.”

[Legion Hoops @LegionHoops]

JUST IN: Victor Wembanyama has surpassed Tim Duncan for the most points in a Spurs Playoff debut.

[Legion Hoops @LegionHoops]

Jayson Tatum:

“Not too long ago I wasn't sure if I was going to play this season. Let alone play in the playoffs. Today was probably the most excited, relaxed and grateful about my 9 years in the playoffs.”

(via @realapp, h/t @NBA__Courtside)

[ClutchPoints @ClutchPoints]

“They’re not a traditional 7th seed. They’re a really, really talented team.”

Jayson Tatum stays weary on the Sixers after the Celtics take a 1-0 lead 🗣️

(via @danield1214)

[Legion Hoops @LegionHoops]

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA IN HIS PLAYOFF DEBUT:

21 POINTS
8/13 FG
3/4 3P

IT’S ONLY HALFTIME. 🤯

[Oh No He Didn't @ohnohedidnt24]

Jalen Green:

"I feel like there's a couple bad calls for how we're gonna be playing in the playoffs and how the refs allowed them to play I think it got to be both ways or just called both the same foul both ways. One or the other"

[Legion Hoops @LegionHoops]

Luka Doncic was not named a finalist for MVP this season, despite leading the NBA in scoring.

[Hater Report @HaterReport]

SGA on why he got so many free throws:

"When you drive the ball a lot, you get fouled a lot just because most of the fouls happen on drives and I drive the ball a lot"

(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)

[NBACentral @TheDunkCentral]

BREAKING: THE 8TH-SEED MAGIC JUST STOLE GAME 1 FROM THE #1-SEED PISTONS IN DETROIT 🤯🤯🤯

[NBACentral @TheDunkCentral]

Shaq announces he is no longer a celebrity

“I denounced myself from being a celebrity about 10 years ago because those people are weird. I'm not weird.”

(Via @nypost / h/t @TheNBABase )

[LakeShowYo @LakeShowYo]

"He trusts everyone on the court... He gives confidence to everyone. He just lifts everyone up on the court."

Luke Kennard on LeBron 🫡

[ClutchPoints @ClutchPoints]

"I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game. That's probably the craziest thing that's ever happened to me in my career ... My mom got to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. That's crazy."

- LeBron James 🔥

[Legion Hoops @LegionHoops]

Derek Fisher on LeBron James: “We could say this is his Magic Johnson era right now. You can still win championships with a guy like him leading the charge.”