2022 NBA playoffs scores: Warriors dominate Nuggets in Curry's return, 76ers handle Raptors on opening day

Saturday's playoff action began with both home teams losing and ended with the home teams winning big

Welcome to Day 1 of the 2022 NBA playoffs. As is tradition, all eight first-round series will debut over the next two days with four Game 1s today and four more Sunday. The fifth-seeded Utah Jazz tipped off Saturday's action with a 99-93 win over the No. 4 Mavericks, who played without an injured Luka Doncic. In the second game of the day, the No. 7 Timberwolves defeated the second-seeded Grizzlies 130-117. Next up, Joel Embiid and the 76ers dominated the Raptors from start to finish en route to a 131-111 victory. 

Rounding out opening day was one of the more mysterious series of the first round as the Golden State Warriors hosted the Denver Nuggets. After getting off to a slow start, Stephen Curry and the Warriors caught fire to start the second half and built a lead that was far too much for the Nuggets to overcome in the fourth quarter as they cruised to a 123-107 win in Game 1. 

NBA playoffs schedule, scores

• Utah Jazz, 99, Dallas Mavericks 93
• Minnesota Timberwolves 130, Memphis Grizzlies 117
• Philadelphia 76ers 131, Toronto Raptors 111
• Golden State Warriors 123, Denver Nuggets 107

Here's the full playoff bracket and weekly TV schedule. All games on Saturday can be streamed on fuboTV (try for free).

[Apr 16, 2022 at 11:15 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

final: warriors 123 -- nuggets 107

after a competitive first quarter the warriors grabbed the lead in the second quarter and never looked back. they cruised for pretty much the entire second half and grab a 1-0 lead in the series. jordan poole led the way with 30 points in a brilliant playoff debut, while klay thompson added 19 points

steph curry returned to action for the first time in a month and struggled early but seemed to find a bit of a rhythm later on. he finished with 16 points on 5 of 13 from the field

nikola jokic had 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals, but he got very little help as the warriors often sold out to stop him. will barton had 24 points, but no one else had more than 10. 

[Apr 16, 2022 at 11:08 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

loud "waaarrrrioooorrrrsss" chants ringing out in chase center 

[Apr 16, 2022 at 11:06 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

both teams have emptied the benches now. just running out the clock now 

[Apr 16, 2022 at 11:00 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

steph drains a three. he's up to 14 points on the night and is 3-6 from 3 point land. would be really nice for the warriors if he can find a rhythm in these final few minutes 

[Apr 16, 2022 at 10:58 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

glorified garbage time at this point. a lot of starters still on the floor but mostly going through the motions at this point

[Apr 16, 2022 at 10:47 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

wiggins and poole with back to back 3s to push the lead to 24 and the rout is officially on. warriors will take game 1

[Apr 16, 2022 at 10:45 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

that possession right there pretty much sums things up. jokic taking a beating trying to get post position. finally catches the ball and immediately gets doubled. somehow finds austin rivers with an incredible pass and then rivers bricks an open jumper 

[Apr 16, 2022 at 10:42 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

annnnddd demarcus cousins is gone. tossed after a double technical. nuggets imploding 

[Apr 16, 2022 at 10:37 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

third quarter: warriors 90 -- nuggets 70

warriors use a big surge at the end of the third quarter to push the lead to 20 points. jordan poole (23 points) and klay thompson (19) still leading the way. steph curry got things going a little bit at the end of the third but he's generally struggled in his return to action (11 points on 3-11 fg)

jokic has 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists, but it just hasn't been enough for the nuggets. they don't have the supporting cast to keep up with the warriors, especially if they cant get any stops 

[Apr 16, 2022 at 10:34 pm ET · Jack Maloney]

oh no. otto porter bricks the 3 after a sick pass by iguodala. cannot miss that shot