OKC Thunder Await Play-In Tournament Winner

The Thunder will face either the Warriors or Suns in the first round of the playoffs.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:27pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, capturing the dynamic action and energy of the sport.The Thunder await their first-round playoff opponent, with the Warriors and Suns battling for the right to face the defending champions.Inglewood Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the winner of the Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns play-in game in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Thunder, the defending champions, will be favored against either opponent, but each team presents unique challenges. The Warriors have struggled this season but still have Stephen Curry, while the Suns rely on their stifling defense but have struggled offensively.

Why it matters

The Thunder are looking to defend their NBA title, and the identity of their first-round opponent will be a key factor in their path to a repeat championship. Both the Warriors and Suns present different obstacles that the Thunder will need to overcome.

The details

The Warriors entered the play-in tournament as the 10-seed after a down year, averaging just 114.6 points per game. Their defense has also been subpar, allowing 115.2 points per game. This could play into the Thunder's favor, as OKC has a stout defense. However, the Warriors still have Stephen Curry, who can single-handedly make any series interesting. The Suns, meanwhile, rely on their defense to keep games close, allowing just 111.1 points per game. But their offense has struggled, ranking in the bottom five in the league in scoring at 112.6 points per game and shooting just 45.5% from the field.

  • The Warriors defeated the Clippers on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 to advance to the play-in game against the Suns.
  • The Warriors vs. Suns play-in game will take place on Friday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Stephen Curry

A sharpshooting guard for the Golden State Warriors who can single-handedly make any series competitive.

Devin Booker

The star guard for the Phoenix Suns, who rely on their stifling defense to keep games close.

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What’s next

The winner of the Warriors vs. Suns play-in game on Friday, April 17, 2026 will advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The takeaway

The Thunder will be favored against either the Warriors or Suns, but each team presents unique challenges. The Warriors have struggled this season but still have Stephen Curry, while the Suns rely on their stifling defense but have been poor offensively. The Thunder will need to be prepared to face whichever team emerges from the play-in game.