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Suns end Warriors' season, await No. 1 Thunder
Suns end Warriors' season with 111-96 win, set to face Thunder
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OKC Thunder to face Suns in Round 1 of 2026 NBA playoffs
TL;DR
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Phoenix Suns in Round 1 of the 2026 NBA playoffs, starting with Game 1 on April 19. The Suns secured their playoff spot with a win over the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament.
Key points
- Oklahoma City Thunder face Phoenix Suns in Round 1 of playoffs
- Game 1 scheduled for April 19, 2026
- Suns secured playoff spot with win over Golden State Warriors
- Jalen Green scored 36 points in the play-in victory
- Thunder had a 3-2 record against Suns in regular season
Oklahoma City ThunderPhoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Jan 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) passes the ball against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Oklahoma City Thunder have finally learned their Round 1 opponent in the 2026 NBA playoffs. They will face the eighth-seed Phoenix Suns. Game 1 will take place on Sunday, Apr. 19.
The Suns clinched the playoff spot with a 111-96 win over the Golden State Warriors in Friday's play-in tournament game. Jalen Green went nuclear to lead them to the do-or-die victory with 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting. He helped Devin Booker, who had 20 points and eight assists.
The Thunder faced the Suns five times in the regular season. They came away with a 3-2 record. Two were blowout wins and the other was a close victory. The two losses happened on a Booker game-winner and when both teams rolled out their C squad for the regular-season finale.
The Thunder enter the Round 1 series as ginormous favorites. If this playoff matchup goes beyond five games, it'll be a surprise. Let's see if the Suns can put up a better fight than the last two eighth seeds OKC has faced.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder to face Suns in Round 1 of 2026 NBA playoffs
Q&A
When does the Thunder vs. Suns playoff series start?
Game 1 of the Thunder vs. Suns playoff series is scheduled for April 19, 2026.
How did the Phoenix Suns qualify for the playoffs?
The Phoenix Suns clinched their playoff spot by defeating the Golden State Warriors 111-96 in the play-in tournament.
What was the Thunder's record against the Suns in the regular season?
The Thunder had a 3-2 record against the Suns in the regular season.