Conference-best OKC, Celtics cruise to NBA playoff wins

Josh Giddey has come out on top in the NBA playoff battle between three Australians in Oklahoma City.

Giddey's top-seeded Thunder ran out 117-95 winners on Wednesday (AEST) in Game 1 of their Western Conference semi-final series with Dallas, who featured fellow Boomers stars Josh Green and Dante Exum.

OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander registered a game-high 29 points plus nine rebounds and nine assists, while Chet Holmgren added 19 points, seven boards and three blocks

Jalen Williams struggled with his shot for three quarters but scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth to help Oklahoma City remain unbeaten in the playoffs.

"They're a great team," Mavericks star Luka Doncic said.

"Great defensive team, great offensive team. So it's not going to be easy (winning the series) at all. "

Kyrie Irving top-scored for the Mavs with 20 points, Doncic had 19 points and Daniel Gafford added 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for the fifth seeds.

The Thunder led 62-53 at the break with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 19 points and reserve Aaron Wiggins 12 of his total 16 points.

Giddey's contribution for OKC was two points, five rebounds and two assists. Green had 11 points, four boards and three assists while Exum scored five points.

Earlier in Boston, Jaylen Brown drained 32 points, Derrick White made seven three-pointers and added 25, and the Celtics powered past Cleveland 120-95 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series.

Jayson Tatum finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell had 33 points and six assists to lead the Cavaliers.

Mitchell is the fourth player in league history to score 30 or more points in six straight playoff series openers, joining Michael Jordan (three times), Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain.

White picked up where he left off after scoring 38 and 25 points in the final two games against Miami in the first round.

With Cleveland hot from the three-point line early, White led Boston's attack. It was his third time this post-season with at least six threes.

"I had it rolling tonight," Brown said.

"You just want to come out and make the right plays, make the right reads. That's all it is. Playing through your teammates and playing with confidence."

The top-seeded Celtics jumped out to a 12-2 lead, with nine of those points coming from Brown.

Mitchell was just as aggressive for the Cavaliers, scoring eight points during a 21-9 spurt by the visitors to nudge back in front.

But Boston settled down, closing the opening period on a 19-11 run to take a 40-34 edge into the second before ending it up 59-49.

With AAP.