The stage is set. Opponents decided. And the OKC Thunder are ready to end their lengthy hiatus and return to action. Asserting their dominance, they put an early end to the first-round series by sweeping the Grizzlies. For the past week, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. have been eagerly waiting to find out who they will face next. Now they know – Denver Nuggets.
Following a hard-fought battle against the Clippers that ended in tonight’s blowout Game 7 win, the Nuggets have booked a spot in the West semis. Finally giving the hoop community what they have been waiting for – Nikola Jokic vs SGA. Yes, the two MVP frontrunners will go head-to-head with their season on the line. Wondering when and where you can watch the thrilling encounter? Don’t worry – we have got you covered.
Here are all the key details of the Thunder’s second-round schedule:
Game
Date
Day
Home Team
Away Team
Time (ET)
Channel
1
5/5
Monday
OKC Thunder
Denver Nuggets
9:30 PM
TNT
2
5/7
Wednesday
OKC Thunder
Denver Nuggets
9:30 PM
TNT
3
5/9
Friday
Denver Nuggets
OKC Thunder
10:00 PM
ESPN
4
5/11
Sunday
Denver Nuggets
OKC Thunder
3:30 PM
ABC
5
TBD
TBD
OKC Thunder
Denver Nuggets
TBD
TBD
6
TBD
TBD
Denver Nuggets
OKC Thunder
TBD
TBD
7
TBD
TBD
OKC Thunder
Denver Nuggets
TBD
TBD
Of course, the Thunder being the top seed in the West will have the home court advantage. They were miles ahead of every team in the Conference, leading the league with 68 regular season wins. The closest West team were the Rockets with 52 wins. Goes to show how dominant Mark Daigneault’s squad was all year. Now, they are reaping the benefits of their year-long efforts. That’s because four of the seven potential games will be played in OKC, including the first two, fifth, and seventh.
Per schedule, the second-round series will kick off on Monday, with the first two games being broadcasted on TNT. Then, the series will head to Denver for Games 3 and 4. You can watch Game 3 on ESPN and the following one on ABC. Well, if things go anything like the Thunder’s first round matchup, then the semis could end there. But if Games 5, 6, or 7 are required, the schedule will be announced accordingly. For now, it remains TBD. As expected, SGA is ready for the challenge.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “ready” to face Nuggets as he reveals Thunder’s preparation during break
While the Thunder have not suited up since April 26, they have not let the break deter their focus. Turns out, Daigneault is keeping the team’s conditioning in check, understanding the high stakes. “There’s so much on the line. It’s what you worked for all summer, all season. It’s just about making sure you’re in shape. You can do drills — Coach tries to make sure we get up and down a fair amount in practice just to make sure our conditioning stays.” SGA revealed during a recent media appearance.
Credit: Imagn
Even though he didn’t know who his next opponents would be until tonight, Shai was prepared to face either one, “We’ve seen both teams four times this year, so we’ve kinda got a pretty good feel for them. Know what they bring to the table, what challenges they present… It’s just about us being ready for the challenge when the time comes.” Well, the time has come to back those words as the series begins on Monday.
During the regular season, there was nothing separating the Nuggets and Thunder as they tied the season series 2-2. And both teams have superstars who can take over on any given night. Shai averaged 27.8 points and six assists in the first round against the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, Jokic averaged a 24-point triple-double to lead his team in the seven-game thriller against the Clippers. So, it is likely to be a series for the ages. However, Shai won’t mind finishing the job in just four games and enjoying another break, “You want a break, but not too long of a break. But we don’t play with games, so if we can get a team out of here in four, we get them out of here in four.” Easier said than done. Whose side are you on?
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