Finally, our playoff picture is set. After the final play-in game on Friday night, our 16-team field is locked in. The Suns will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, trying to upset the defending champions. Will they be able to pull it off? Or will this dominant OKC team roll through the first round once again?
The Thunder are -3000 to win the series, while the Suns are +1300 underdogs on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s dig into a preview and prediction for this first-round playoff series.
Thunder vs. Suns preview, prediction
Oklahoma City Thunder
What else can be said about the Oklahoma City Thunder? They tied the NBA record for a best 25-game start, going 24-1 to open the season. They have a top-five offense and defense, led by soon-to-be two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Incredibly, they ran back their entire rotation from last year’s championship team, and managed to make some upgrades at the deadline by picking up Jared McCain from the 76ers.
For OKC, it’s this simple: can they find an extra level from last season? Rings all count the same, but two of their four series came down to seven games, and both were heavily influenced by injuries to the other team. Gilgeous-Alexander was excellent in the postseason, but his teammates were inconsistent at times. Is Jalen Williams healthy enough to be a true No. 2? Will Chet Holmgren get more aggressive? How many games will Lu Dort shoot them out of?
Ultimately, these questions may not matter considering the talent gap between OKC and Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns
Who would have thought the Suns would be here after the offseason they had? An ugly Kevin Durant exit led many (myself included) to believe the Suns would be heading into a full-blown tank. Instead, they fought hard all season long, getting into the playoff mix and never looking back. A tight loss in the 7-8 play-in game to the Trail Blazers made things dodgy, but they bounced back to take care of business against the Golden State Warriors.
If they want to hang with the Thunder, it comes down to the defense. Can Dillon Brooks put enough pressure on SGA to make a difference? Will this team grab enough boards to make up for the size difference? The talent gap is evident, but this team knows how to scrap and compete. The X-factor is undoubtedly Jalen Green; if he gets it going, nobody can stop him from getting tough buckets, but he’s also no stranger to shooting his team out of a game.
Now we know these teams a bit better. What is the best way to bet this series?
Thunder vs. Suns Best Bets
Oklahoma City Exact Series Outcome 4-0 (+130)
The Suns are a cute story. They competed hard all year, have some great players, and have a much brighter future than most expected. But this is going to be brutal.
OKC has the kind of offense they cannot contain. Dillon Brooks is far too foul-prone to stick with SGA, and weak points like Green/Booker will be thoroughly exposed. On the other end, they don’t have the pressure points to press OKC. This is a terrible matchup, and the Thunder make every team look like a terrible matchup.
Thunder vs. Suns FAQ
When is Game 1 of Thunder vs. Suns?
Game 1 of the Thunder vs. Suns series will take place on Sunday, April 19, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Where is Game 1 of Thunder vs. Suns?
Game 1 will be held at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder holding home-court advantage in the series.
How many games is the Thunder vs. Suns series?
This is a best-of-seven series between the Thunder and Suns. The first team to win four games will move on to the Western Conference semifinals.
