The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to establish themselves as one of the most solid and complete teams in the league. For the second straight year, the Oklahoma franchise is the first to punch its ticket to the second round of the NBA Playoffs closing out the series against the Phoenix Suns with a convincing sweep.
The 131-122 win in Game 4 put the finishing touches on a dominant series, allowing the Thunder to enjoy a few days of rest while waiting to find out their next opponent. On the other side of the bracket, it will be either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “We know what to expect”
Leading the charge, as always, is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the cornerstone of a team that looks fully equipped to make a title run. The Thunder star has already begun scouting potential opponents, with no signs of concern.
I’ve already been watching the Lakers-Rockets series. I’ll keep doing it to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. We know them well-we’ve played them multiple times this season. We know exactly what to expect
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Lakers favored over Rockets, but…
At the moment, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be the most likely matchup for Oklahoma City. They currently lead the series against Houston 3-1 and will have a chance to close it out at home in Game 5.
A potential matchup with the Lakers would be especially intriguing, particularly considering the possible full return of key players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. However, the season series clearly favors the Thunder.
During the regular season, Oklahoma City completely dominated Los Angeles, winning all four meetings. Not only that – the overall margin between the two teams was staggering, with a combined +117 point differential in favor of the Thunder.
Houston, on the other hand, has shown it can present more challenges. The Rockets played a more competitive season series against Oklahoma City, even though the Thunder still finished ahead 2-1.
Without a dominant presence in the paint and facing OKC’s aggressive defense, Houston could struggle to find offensive consistency in a potential playoff matchup.
Whether it’s the Lakers or the Rockets, the message is loud and clear: the Thunder are ready.
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