The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 114-94 to open their NBA Playoff campaign.

The top seeds held a commanding lead over the losing finalists from the previous season thanks to Jayson Tatum’s triple-double.

The Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in a play-in eliminator to secure the eighth seed going into the playoffs.

However, in the first game of the best-of-seven series, the Heat found the Celtics too strong without injured key player Jimmy Butler.

Tatum was one of six Boston players to score in double digits with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. However, he cautioned his team that they “can’t relax” against the same squad that ousted them from the playoffs the previous season.

“They’re not going to give up, they’re not going to lay down,” he stated.

In the first round of the playoffs, 16 teams compete in best-of-seven series with a knockout format. The following round is advanced to the eight winners.

In the opening game of their series, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 109-97 behind 28 points from James Harden.

After Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 33 and 31 points, respectively, to lead the home team to a 56-30 lead at the half, the Mavericks were left with too much work to do.

Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence, Damian Lillard scored all 35 of his points in the first half as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 109-94.

For any Bucks player in any half of a play-off game, his 35 points set a record.

For just the second time this season, the Bucks defense kept the potent Pacers offense to less than 100 points.

With 28 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 94-92 in an exciting game.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored two crucial baskets in the last two minutes of the Thunder’s first playoff game since 2020, giving Oklahoma City the advantage in the series.