Thunder open NBA playoffs against Suns in first round

Top-seeded OKC looks to defend title against eighth-seeded Phoenix

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns, with the players' figures broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette.The Thunder and Suns clash in a high-stakes first-round playoff matchup, with both teams vying for a spot in the Western Conference semifinals.Oklahoma City Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, will begin their quest for a second straight NBA championship when they face the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

Why it matters

The Thunder are the heavy favorites to win this series and advance to the next round, but the Suns earned the eighth seed by defeating the Golden State Warriors in the Play-In Tournament, showing they can compete with the league's elite teams.

The details

The Thunder finished the regular season with the best record in the West, while the Suns squeezed into the playoffs by defeating the Warriors. Oklahoma City is led by superstar duo Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, while Phoenix relies on the scoring of Devin Booker and the interior presence of Deandre Ayton.

  • The Thunder-Suns series begins on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder's star point guard and one of the NBA's rising young talents.

Chet Holmgren

Oklahoma City's dominant two-way big man who anchors their frontcourt.

Devin Booker

Phoenix's All-Star shooting guard and the team's leading scorer.

Deandre Ayton

The Suns' starting center and a force in the paint on both ends of the floor.

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What they’re saying

“We know the Thunder are the favorites, but we're not going to back down. We're going to give them everything we've got.”

— Devin Booker, Suns Guard

“Our goal is to win another championship. We've been here before and we know what it takes. We're ready for the challenge ahead.”

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder Guard

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the top-seeded Thunder and the eighth-seeded Suns promises to be an exciting and competitive series, as both teams have the talent and experience to make a deep playoff run.