Fan excitement on the rise amid countdown to Oklahoma City Thunder playoffs
HEY, WELCOME BACK OKLAHOMA! 913 FRIDAY MORNING IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS GETTING INTO THE THUNDER PLAYOFF SPIRIT HERE. MIDFIRST BANK THERE IN THE DISTANCE. IT’S GOT IT’S OKC BANNER UP AND LISTEN THE NBA PLAYOFFS TIP OFF HERE IN OKC IN JUST TWO DAYS. THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER ARE BACK IN. AND THAT’S RIGHT GAME ONE OF ROUND ONE. IT’S SET FOR THIS SUNDAY. THIS MORNING WE HAVE THE THUNDER IN STUDIO TO GET YOU AT HOME READY FOR THE PLAYOFFS. LET’S WELCOME MALCOLM TUBBS IN. MALCOLM YOU ARE BASICALLY THE VOICE OF THE TEAM AT THIS POINT. YOU KEEP CITY GOING IN THE PAYCOM CENTER. I WANT TO GET RIGHT TO IT TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FAN EXPERIENCES THAT YOU ALL HAVE PLANNED FOR FANS, STARTING AS EARLY AS SUNDAY, BECAUSE THEY’RE UP IN THE PARK, IS BACK EVEN EARLIER THAN SUNDAY. KYLIE LOUD CITY HQ IS HAPPENING TODAY AND TOMORROW. AND THAT’S KIND OF THE THE WARM UP RIGHT BEFORE WE START TO REALLY FEEL THAT THUNDER PLAYOFF ENERGY PERCOLATE COME SUNDAY. ABOUT THE HQ 530 TO 830. IT’S THERE. 800 NORTHWEST FOURTH STREET IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY. OH THE QUICK LIVE SHOT OF THAT OR SHOT OF THAT ONE. SO REALLY COOL. BUT THAT KIND OF GETS YOU READY. AND THEN OF COURSE SUNDAY THUNDER UP IN THE PARK STARTS AT 11 A.M. BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT EARLIER IN THE DAY. TIP OFF AT 230. KNOWING THAT DOORS OPEN TWO HOURS BEFORE TIPOFF. THUNDER UP IN THE PARK OPENS 3.5 SO IT’S THERE AT SCISSORTAIL PARK. YOU’LL SEE IT RIGHT THERE ON THE MAIN STAGE. IT IS AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE IF YOU’RE A THUNDER FAN, LIKE I’VE BEEN TELLING EVERYBODY, IF YOU’RE A FAN OF BASKETBALL BUT YET, YOU COME TO THUNDER UP IN THE PARK, YOU WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A FULL FLEDGED SUNSET, ORANGE AND BLUE THUNDER FAN FOR SURE. YOU SEE, THERE’S FACE PAINTING OPPORTUNITIES. YOU CAN GET YOUR HAIR CUT AND STYLED LIKE A REAL THUNDER FAN. THERE’S GOING TO BE OUR ENTERTAINERS. RUMBLE THE BISON. I’LL BE THERE YELLING OF COURSE, GOING CRAZY TO HYPE YOU UP BEFOREHAND. AND THEN THAT ALL LEADS TO THE PARADE INSIDE THE ARENA WHERE OF COURSE YOU SEE ALL THE LIGHTS, SOUNDS AND ACTION OF THUNDER PLAYOFF BASKETBALL. THUNDER UP IN THE PARK. IT BECAME SUCH A FAN FAVORITE LAST YEAR AS WE WERE JUST WATCHING THE THUNDER. EVERY GAME, EVERY GAME, WE’RE LIKE, OKAY, WE GOT TO HEAD OVER TO SCISSORTAIL PARK. THAT MIGHT BE PART OF OUR LIKE, YOU KNOW, TRADITION. YEAH, IT SHOULD BE GAME DAYS. I WANT TO NOW TALK ABOUT THE RAFFLE BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE A RAFFLE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. FANS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WIN FREE TICKETS TO SUNDAY’S GAME. THAT’S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY THERE REALLY. BUT THE TIME IS RUNNING OUT. SO DEADLINE IS TOMORROW AT NOON. SATURDAY AT NOON IS WHEN THAT WINDOW WILL CLOSE FOR THE RAFFLE. BUT THEN YOU HAVE UP UNTIL THEN TO PURCHASE THOSE TICKETS. IT GIVES YOU FOUR SUITE LEVEL TICKETS. OF COURSE, FOOD. THERE’S GOING TO BE A PRE GAME EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE WARM UPS HAPPENING. THIS IS LIKE AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CANNOT GET NORMALLY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PLAYOFFS. AND WE KNOW HOW RARE IT IS TO MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS IN GENERAL. SO DEFINITELY JUMP ON THAT. AND THE COOL PART ABOUT THE RAFFLE IS THOSE PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TOWARDS OUR THUNDER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, WHICH WE KNOW SERVICES THE COMMUNITY IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS. SO IT’S A WIN WIN SITUATION. THERE’S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN TICKETS FOR THE SIMPLE MODERN TICKET CHALLENGE AT THUNDER UP IN THE PARK. SO WHILE YOU’RE THERE PARTYING, GETTING READY, GOING CRAZY, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO SCAN THOSE QR CODES THAT YOU’LL SEE AROUND THE PARK FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS FOR SIMPLE MATTER AS WELL. SO WE TRY TO HOOK YOU UP RIGHT IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE TICKETS TO THE GAME, JUST WATCH PARTIES ALL OVER THE CITY. IT’S GOING TO BE POPPING. YEAH. I MEAN, IF YOU WERE THERE LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT THIS YEAR? TIMES TEN TIMES TEN. YEAH. OKAY. EVERYTHING IS ELEVATED. LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS NOW BECAUSE YOU DID MENTION LOUD CITY HQ. YES. YOU ALSO KIND OF ROLLED OUT A NEW EXPERIENCE AS WELL. THE THUNDER CAPSULE SCAVENGER HUNT. YOU TOLD PEOPLE ABOUT THAT. OVERALL, WHAT DO THESE ACTIVITIES, THESE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FANS TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST TAP INTO THAT PLAYOFF SPIRIT, THE ENERGY HERE, WHAT’S THE GOAL HERE? GOSH, IT’S REALLY TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY HOW HOW WE CAN GALVANIZE TOGETHER, COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT OUR PLAYERS AS THEY’RE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS. OF COURSE, WE’RE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE IN THE POSITION TO EVEN, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE AT A PLAYOFF GAME BECAUSE IT IS SO RARE. ONLY 16 TEAMS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AND THEN GO FURTHER AND MAKE IT ALL THE WAY. I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, FINGERS CROSSED. BUT WE’RE GOING TO BE THERE THE ENTIRE TIME. AND THEN HAVING AS MANY PEOPLE A PART OF THAT EXPERIENCE, WATCHING, CHEERING AND, AND HELPING PROJECT OUR FANS, OUR PLAYERS TO THE NEXT LEVEL, IT HELPS. SO THE MORE WAYS WE CAN FIND THOSE TOUCH POINTS AND CREATE THOSE MOMENTS THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO THE TRUE FAN, I THINK WE’RE IN THE RIGHT BOAT, AND I KNOW THUNDER FANS APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE THEY’VE GOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY, LIKE I SAID, GET INTO THE PLAYOFF SPIRIT. I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, YOU ARE THE VOICE OF THE THUNDER. WHEN WE’RE IN THAT PAYCOM CENTER, ARE YOU LEADING THE CHANTS? THEY SEE YOU THERE ON THE COURT AND WE AREN’T LOUD CITY FOR NO REASON. OKAY, WE REALLY GET LOUD OUT THERE. YES. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW EXCITED YOU ARE JUST TO SEE THE THUNDER BACK IN THE SITUATION AGAIN? WE’RE BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS ANOTHER YEAR REALLY. I MEAN, THERE’S A LOT OF PREP THAT I DO PERSONALLY TO GO INTO WHAT TO SAY THE RIGHT WAY, WHAT WORDS ARE GOING TO REALLY FUEL THE FANS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO PUSH OUR GUYS FOR EVERY POSSESSION, OFFENSE AND DEFENSE. SO FOR ME PERSONALLY, I LIKE I’M SO GRATEFUL. IT’S SO CRAZY TO BE IN THE POSITION TO CHEER ON FANS. BE RIGHT THERE WITH THE LIGHTS ON ME AND I SAY THUNDER. YOU KNOW, YOU SAY UP, RIGHT? ALL THAT. YEAH. 18,000 FANS SCREAMING BACK. IT’S A LOT. BUT IT’S IT’S SO COOL. IT’S SO COOL. AND BEING A PART OF THE THUNDER NOW FOR 11 SEASONS, I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY PLAYOFFS THIS THIS HAS BEEN, BUT EACH EXPERIENCE GETS BETTER. IT TRULY DOES. EACH MOMENT AN OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE TO SPEAK TO A KID, OR MAYBE THROW A T SHIRT TO A FAN, OR REALLY GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT LOUD CITY IS ABOUT, AND THIS IS HOW YOU NEED TO YELL TO COME WITH THAT, RIGHT? PROPER ENERGY THAT THAT ALLOW CITY DOES, RIGHT? SO IT’S COOL WHEN YOU REPRESENT LOUD CITY SO WELL. LAST QUESTION HERE BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE FAN EXPERIENCES AND WE GET PAST ALL OF THAT, WE GOT TO GET TO THE GAME TOO. OH, YEAH. SET FOR 230 PAYCOM CENTER. WE DON’T KNOW WHO WE’RE PLAYING JUST YET. NOT QUITE. BUT WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THEY HEAD TO PAYCOM? OR IF THEY’RE GOING UP TO THUNDER UP IN THE PARK? I WOULD SAY THE THE WAY TO MAKE IS TO PLAN AHEAD AND TO GET THERE EARLY. SO IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE WEARING, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY PURCHASED YOUR GEAR AT THE SHOP, SHOUT OUT TO SHOP FOR THE NEW SWAG THAT I GOT. NOW, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO WEAR BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE CRAZINESS, YOU STILL WANT TO HAVE SOME TIME TO YOURSELF. SO SUNDAY IS GOING TO BE FAMILY DAY, USUALLY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT THEN RIGHT AT TEN, START GETTING READY FOR THUNDER UP IN THE PARK, WHICH STARTS AT 11. AND THEN THEN YOU KNOW, THE GAME STARTS AT 230. SO EARLIER THE BETTER DOORS OPEN TWO HOURS BEFORE AS OPPOSED TO AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE NORMALLY. SO WE WANT YOU TO GET EARLY. WANT TO GET YOUR SEATS EARLY, GET THOSE SHIRTS ON, GET THE FAN BANNERS, YOU KNOW, REALLY SETTLE INTO IT. SO AS SOON AS THAT TIP OFF STARTS, YOU’RE STANDING FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. I’M GLAD YOU SAID IT. YELLING PREFERABLY THE ENTIRE GAME AND READY TO REALLY EMBRACE ALL THAT IS PLAYOFF BASKETBALL. AND ONE LAST THING MALCOLM. COME ON NOW YOU’RE WEARING THE SHIRT. YEAH. LOUD AND LOYAL. WE SEE IT. THAT’S WHO WE ARE. THAT’S WHAT IT’S GOING TO BE ABOUT FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, HOPEFULLY NEXT FEW MONTHS IF WE TAKE IT ALL THE WAY. AND YEAH, WE’RE GOING TO REPRESENT IN A MAJOR WAY. ALL RIGHT. MALCOLM TUBBS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON. WE ARE WAITING ON THE EDGE OF OU
Fan excitement on the rise amid countdown to Oklahoma City Thunder playoffs
Updated: 10:49 AM CDT Apr 17, 2026
The countdown to Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs is on as the Oklahoma City Thunder begin their NBA title defense on Sunday. Excitement is building across the Oklahoma City metro, and there are plenty of ways to get in on the action. The Paycom Center will be filled with blue and orange for Game 1 of the Thunder’s first-round Western Conference playoff matchup. Oklahoma City’s opponent will either be the Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns as those teams square off in the NBA Play-In Tournament for the No. 8 seed. The game tips off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and doors open at 12:30 p.m. Fans will be able to watch the game on KOCO 5. People who can’t make it into the Paycom Center can enjoy the playoff fun outside the arena and around town. Video Below: Happy hunting for Thunder-themed swag during scavenger hunt across OKCThunder UP in the Park Thunder UP in the Park is back at Scissortail Park, and it starts 3.5 hours before tipoff and ends 30 minutes before the game. The free event features face-painting, a skills-and-drills station, inflatable games, a live DJ, the Thunder merchandise trailer, the OG&E Thunder Bolt, and appearances from Rumble and Thunder entertainers. Fans also could enter for a chance to win tickets to Game 1 while at Thunder UP in the Park. Video Below: Oklahoma City prepares for Thunder NBA playoffs excitementLoud City HQ The fan favorite Loud City HQ continues through Saturday night at 800 NW Fourth St. Loud City HQ is the official playoff prep hub for Thunder fans and will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each day. The event provides an immersive space that includes live DJ sets, exclusive merchandise, Thunder entertainer appearances, Simple Modern door prizes, the Michelob Ultra Baseline Bar, and virtual experiences. Video Below: Fans line up as Loud City HQ officially opens in OKC to build playoff buzz for ThunderGame 1 Ticket Raffle The Thunder Community Foundation is offering the opportunity for a fan to win four club-level seats and a game-day experience to Game 1. The package includes four MidFirst Bank Level tickets, food, and exclusive early-door access to watch the Thunder during pregame warmups. Raffle tickets start at $5, and the deadline to enter is noon Saturday, April 18. Fans who want to participate must be 18 or older, and the winner will be drawn on Saturday. People who want to register for the raffle can do so here.All funds raised from the raffle and auction will go back to the Thunder Community Foundation. Thunder Playoff Excitement With fans already gearing up for tipoff, Thunder officials said they already can feel the energy in downtown Oklahoma City. “Seeing the people getting their merch, coming to hang out with other fans, you know, really get hyped up, we see it at Loud City HQ,” Thunder spokesperson Landis Tindell said. “I know we’ll see it at Thunder UP in the Park. We’ll see it in Thunder Hall because the entire city is super excited.”
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The countdown to Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs is on as the Oklahoma City Thunder begin their NBA title defense on Sunday.
Excitement is building across the Oklahoma City metro, and there are plenty of ways to get in on the action.
The Paycom Center will be filled with blue and orange for Game 1 of the Thunder’s first-round Western Conference playoff matchup. Oklahoma City’s opponent will either be the Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns as those teams square off in the NBA Play-In Tournament for the No. 8 seed.
The game tips off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and doors open at 12:30 p.m. Fans will be able to watch the game on KOCO 5.
People who can’t make it into the Paycom Center can enjoy the playoff fun outside the arena and around town.
Video Below: Happy hunting for Thunder-themed swag during scavenger hunt across OKC
Thunder UP in the Park
Thunder UP in the Park is back at Scissortail Park, and it starts 3.5 hours before tipoff and ends 30 minutes before the game. The free event features face-painting, a skills-and-drills station, inflatable games, a live DJ, the Thunder merchandise trailer, the OG&E Thunder Bolt, and appearances from Rumble and Thunder entertainers.
Fans also could enter for a chance to win tickets to Game 1 while at Thunder UP in the Park.
Video Below: Oklahoma City prepares for Thunder NBA playoffs excitement
Loud City HQ
The fan favorite Loud City HQ continues through Saturday night at 800 NW Fourth St. Loud City HQ is the official playoff prep hub for Thunder fans and will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each day.
The event provides an immersive space that includes live DJ sets, exclusive merchandise, Thunder entertainer appearances, Simple Modern door prizes, the Michelob Ultra Baseline Bar, and virtual experiences.
Video Below: Fans line up as Loud City HQ officially opens in OKC to build playoff buzz for Thunder
Game 1 Ticket Raffle
The Thunder Community Foundation is offering the opportunity for a fan to win four club-level seats and a game-day experience to Game 1. The package includes four MidFirst Bank Level tickets, food, and exclusive early-door access to watch the Thunder during pregame warmups.
Raffle tickets start at $5, and the deadline to enter is noon Saturday, April 18. Fans who want to participate must be 18 or older, and the winner will be drawn on Saturday. People who want to register for the raffle can do so here.
All funds raised from the raffle and auction will go back to the Thunder Community Foundation.
Thunder Playoff Excitement
With fans already gearing up for tipoff, Thunder officials said they already can feel the energy in downtown Oklahoma City.
“Seeing the people getting their merch, coming to hang out with other fans, you know, really get hyped up, we see it at Loud City HQ,” Thunder spokesperson Landis Tindell said. “I know we’ll see it at Thunder UP in the Park. We’ll see it in Thunder Hall because the entire city is super excited.”