The Oklahoma City Thunder are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and they now play the waiting game to see which team they’ll square off against in the playoffs. This marks the third straight year the Thunder have earned the top seed in the West. The NBA title goes through the defending champs because Oklahoma City finished the regular season with the best record at 64-18. Because the Thunder were the best in the West during the regular season, they’ll face the No. 8 seed in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. That team will be determined by the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament. Below is what you need to know about the Play-In Tournament. What is the Play-In Tournament? Teams in each conference that finished seventh through 10th will now go through a weeklong tournament to determine the final seedings for the playoffs. This weeklong tournament will decide which teams will have the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the East and West. Teams that finished in the No. 1-6 seeds in each conference already have a playoff spot secured and don’t have to take part in the play-in tournament. Each conference’s No. 7 team in the regular season standings will host the No. 8 team, and the No. 9 team will host the No. 10 team. The winner of those first games will secure the No. 7 seed. The losers of the No. 7-8 matchups will host the winner of the No. 9-10 matchups. The winner of those games will have the No. 8 seed for their respective conference in the NBA playoffs. Video Below: Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs Which teams are in the Play-In Tournament? Below is a look at the four teams that will compete in the Play-In Tournament. The Thunder will face a Western Conference foe in the first round once the tournament is over. Western Conference Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Los Angeles Clippers Golden State Warriors Eastern Conference Philadelphia 76ers Orlando Magic Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat Video Below: Loud City HQ returns to OKC to get Thunder fans ready for NBA playoffsPlay-In Tournament Schedule The NBA Play-In Tournament starts on Tuesday and continues on Wednesday before ending on Friday. All games will be broadcast on Prime Video. Tuesday, April 14 East: Heat (10) vs. Hornets (9), 6:30 p.m. (Loser eliminated)West: Trail Blazers (8) vs. Suns (7), 9 p.m. (Winner earns 7 seed)Wednesday, April 15 East: Magic (8) vs. 76ers (7), 6:30 p.m. (Winner earns 7 seed)West: Warriors (10) vs. Clippers (9), 9 p.m. (Loser eliminated)You can find the full bracket here.Friday, April 17 East: 7/8 loser vs. 9/10 winner, 6:30 p.m. (Winner earns 8 seed)West: 7/8 loser vs. 9/10 winner, 9 p.m. (Winner earns 8 seed)Thunder First Round ScheduleGame 1: TBD at Oklahoma City – Sunday, April 19 (2:30 p.m. on KOCO 5)Game 2: TBD at Oklahoma City – TBDGame 3: Oklahoma City at TBD – TBDGame 4: Oklahoma City at TBD – TBDGame 5: TBD at Oklahoma City – TBD*Game 6: Oklahoma City at TBD – TBD*Game 7: TBD at Oklahoma City – TBD* Note: Asterisk denotes if-necessary games
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and they now play the waiting game to see which team they’ll square off against in the playoffs.
This marks the third straight year the Thunder have earned the top seed in the West. The NBA title goes through the defending champs because Oklahoma City finished the regular season with the best record at 64-18.
Because the Thunder were the best in the West during the regular season, they’ll face the No. 8 seed in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. That team will be determined by the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.
Below is what you need to know about the Play-In Tournament.
What is the Play-In Tournament?
Teams in each conference that finished seventh through 10th will now go through a weeklong tournament to determine the final seedings for the playoffs. This weeklong tournament will decide which teams will have the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the East and West.
Teams that finished in the No. 1-6 seeds in each conference already have a playoff spot secured and don’t have to take part in the play-in tournament.
Each conference’s No. 7 team in the regular season standings will host the No. 8 team, and the No. 9 team will host the No. 10 team. The winner of those first games will secure the No. 7 seed.
The losers of the No. 7-8 matchups will host the winner of the No. 9-10 matchups. The winner of those games will have the No. 8 seed for their respective conference in the NBA playoffs.
Video Below: Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs
Which teams are in the Play-In Tournament?
Below is a look at the four teams that will compete in the Play-In Tournament. The Thunder will face a Western Conference foe in the first round once the tournament is over.
Western Conference Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Los Angeles Clippers Golden State Warriors Eastern Conference Philadelphia 76ers Orlando Magic Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat
Video Below: Loud City HQ returns to OKC to get Thunder fans ready for NBA playoffs
Play-In Tournament Schedule
The NBA Play-In Tournament starts on Tuesday and continues on Wednesday before ending on Friday. All games will be broadcast on Prime Video.
Tuesday, April 14 East: Heat (10) vs. Hornets (9), 6:30 p.m. (Loser eliminated)West: Trail Blazers (8) vs. Suns (7), 9 p.m. (Winner earns 7 seed)Wednesday, April 15 East: Magic (8) vs. 76ers (7), 6:30 p.m. (Winner earns 7 seed)West: Warriors (10) vs. Clippers (9), 9 p.m. (Loser eliminated)
You can find the full bracket here.
Friday, April 17 East: 7/8 loser vs. 9/10 winner, 6:30 p.m. (Winner earns 8 seed)West: 7/8 loser vs. 9/10 winner, 9 p.m. (Winner earns 8 seed)Thunder First Round ScheduleGame 1: TBD at Oklahoma City – Sunday, April 19 (2:30 p.m. on KOCO 5)Game 2: TBD at Oklahoma City – TBDGame 3: Oklahoma City at TBD – TBDGame 4: Oklahoma City at TBD – TBDGame 5: TBD at Oklahoma City – TBD*Game 6: Oklahoma City at TBD – TBD*Game 7: TBD at Oklahoma City – TBD*
Note: Asterisk denotes if-necessary games