Mark your calendars! The Thunder's playoff journey begins April 19th. Discover tip-off times, network broadcasts, and potential opponents for their championship quest.
Thunder fans, get out your phones and prepare to enter some dates into your calendars.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's schedule for Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs dropped late Tuesday night after the Portland Trail Blazers upset the Phoenix Suns in the #7 versus #8 play-in tournament game. While the Thunder will not know who their first round opponent is until Friday night (it's down to the Suns, Clippers or Warriors), the team and its fans can now begin preparing around dates and times.
Game 1 of the first round will take place at The Paycom Center in downtown OKC on the 31st anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The contest is scheduled for a mid-afternoon tip off at 2:30pm central time. The defending champs will open their pursuit of a back to back title on ABC.
The Thunder and their Round 1 opponents will get two full days off before facing off again in Game 2. The second matchup is a late 8:30pm central tip on Wednesday night. A national audience on ESPN will watch OKC attempt to hold homecourt advantage before traveling to either Phoenix, Los Angeles or Golden State.
The two teams will once again receive two days rest before battling it out in Game 3. OKC's first road game will be held on Saturday, April 25th. It's another mid-afternoon weekend game scheduled for 2:30pm central. Three games, three different networks. This time, the Thunder will be playing on NBC.
The fourth and possibly final contest will come after only one off day. Game 4 will take place on Monday, April 27th. Starting with this contest, all times and television networks are still to be determined.
If needed, Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29th. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday, May 1st. Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday, May 3rd.
Thunder fans can now fill their planners with the 1st round schedule. Here's to three more rounds of scheduling calendars to come.
OKC Thunder 1st Round Schedule
Game 1: Sunday, April 19. 2:30pm Central. Oklahoma City. ABC.
Game 2: Wednesday, April 22. 8:30pm Central. Oklahoma City. ESPN.
Game 3: Saturday, April 25. 2:30pm Central. Location TBD. NBC.
Game 4: Monday, April 27. Time TBD. Location TBD. Network TBD.
Game 5: Wednesday, April 29. Time TBD. Oklahoma City. Network TBD.
Game 6: Friday, May 1. Time TBD. Location TBD. Network TBD.
Game 7: Sunday, May 3. Time TBD. Oklahoma City. Network TBD.