Thunder and Suns Face Off in Game 1 Playoff Matchup

The two teams meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs after strong regular season campaigns.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:23pm

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A vibrant, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns, with the players and court rendered in a fractured, geometric style.The opening game of the Thunder-Suns playoff series promises an intense, high-stakes battle between two of the Western Conference's top teams.Oklahoma City Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns will face off in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series on April 19, 2026. Both teams had impressive regular seasons, with the Thunder finishing 53-29 and the Suns going 51-31. This will be the first playoff meeting between the two franchises since 2016.

Why it matters

This series features two of the Western Conference's top teams and should provide an exciting start to the NBA playoffs. The Thunder and Suns have built strong rosters through the draft and free agency in recent years, and their matchup will showcase some of the league's best young talent.

The details

The Thunder are led by All-Star point guard Jaylen Green, who averaged 24.7 points and 7.2 assists per game in the regular season. The Suns counter with their own star backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Booker put up 27.2 points per game, while the veteran Paul orchestrated the Suns' offense with 11.9 assists per contest.

  • Game 1 of the Thunder-Suns series tips off on April 19, 2026.
  • The series will continue with Games 2-7 on the following dates: April 21, April 23, April 25, April 27, April 29, and May 1 (if necessary).

The players

Jaylen Green

The Thunder's All-Star point guard, who led the team in scoring and assists during the regular season.

Devin Booker

The Suns' star shooting guard, known for his prolific scoring ability.

Chris Paul

The veteran Suns point guard, who orchestrates the team's offense and is a future Hall of Famer.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a tough series, but we're ready for the challenge. Our guys have been working hard all season to get to this point.”

— Mark Daigneault, Thunder Head Coach

“The Thunder are a talented team, but we feel confident in our ability to match up with them. It's going to be a great series for the fans to enjoy.”

— Monty Williams, Suns Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this series will advance to the Western Conference semifinals to face the winner of the Clippers-Mavericks series.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Thunder and Suns features two of the NBA's most exciting young teams, setting the stage for a highly competitive and entertaining playoff series.