Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Quick read:

The 2026 NBA Playoffs first round features the Western Conference's top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18 regular season record, +11.1 net rating) facing the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns in a series not seen since 1997. The Thunder, the defending 2025 NBA champions, enter the series with a 3-2 regular-season series lead over Phoenix, including a 108-105 win in January where Devin Booker hit a last-second game-winner.

Betting odds via BetMGM heavily favor the Thunder at -3000 compared to the Suns at +1300. Key Thunder player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite for a second consecutive MVP award, averaging 30 points in three games against the Suns with a 51/50/86 shooting split.

Conversely, Jalen Williams, the Thunder's second-best player from last season, struggled this year due to wrist and hamstring injuries, dropping his scoring average to 17.1 points per game and his 3-point shooting to 29.7%. Phoenix, despite trading Kevin Durant and waiving Bradley Beal, built a top-10 defense and relied on Devin Booker's 26-4-6 average and the effort of new additions like Dillon Brooks...