Thunder Aim for Title Defense Against Suns in High-Stakes Playoff Opener

Thunder Aim for Title Defense Against Suns in High-Stakes Playoff Opener

The Oklahoma City Thunder kick off their pursuit of consecutive NBA championships as they face the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round on Sunday. The Thunder, the top seed, boast an impressive 64-18 record and have won seven of their last ten games. They hold a dominant 34-7 home record, setting the stage for a thrilling matchup at Paycom Center. The Suns secured the eighth seed in the West with a 111-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the Play-In Tournament. Finishing the regular season at 45-37 and second in the Pacific Division, they struggled on the road, ending with a 20-21 record. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, with the Thunder favored by 14.5 points according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The all-time series sees the Suns leading 138-126, but the Thunder have prevailed in three of their five matchups this season. The SportsLine Projection Model, known for its accuracy, has simulated this game 10,000 times and suggests betting on the Under for the total points scored, set at 215.5. Notably, the Under has hit in three of the last five Phoenix games and four of the last five for Oklahoma City when the line was between 214 to 217 points. Key player projections include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, expected to lead the Thunder with 32.2 points, while Devin Booker is projected to top the Suns with 23.3 points. Overall, the model indicates a combined score of 214 total points, aligning with the Under hitting 54% of the time. For those looking to make informed bets, the model's insights suggest that one side of the spread hits over 60% of the time. Further details and picks can be found at SportsLine.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-19