Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder begin their quest for a repeat against the Suns
The Oklahoma City Thunder, no longer the young upstarts, begin their quest for an NBA title repeat on Sunday at home against the Phoenix Suns.
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
By Cliff Brunt, Associated Press
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder begin their quest for a repeat against the Suns
The Oklahoma City Thunder, no longer the young upstarts, begin their quest for an NBA title repeat on Sunday at home against the Phoenix Suns.
Updated: 5:10 PM CDT Apr 18, 2026
By Cliff Brunt, Associated Press
The Oklahoma City Thunder, no longer the young upstarts, begin their quest for an NBA title repeat on Sunday at home against the Phoenix Suns.RELATED VIDEO ABOVE: Fan excitement on the rise amid countdown to Oklahoma City Thunder playoffsThe Thunder remain one of the youngest teams in the league. But now, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a group of grizzled playoff veterans that won two seven-game series last year, including the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.Oklahoma City followed that up by posting the league’s best record of 64-18 this season, holding off the San Antonio Spurs to secure homecourt advantage. Now, the Thunder have embraced the new challenge of trying to win again.“This playoff run is so unique and so different to the last one, and we have to have the ability to understand that every series is going to be different, every game is going be different,” Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams said.Oklahoma City is rolling, having won 19 of 20 before resting starters the final two regular-season games. The Thunder have lost just one game since the All-Star break with Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup, and their last home loss with him was Jan. 25 against Toronto.Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in the league with 31.1 points per game. Fellow All-Star Chet Holmgren averaged 17.1 points and 8.9 assists this season and was second in the league with 1.9 blocks per game.None of that means Oklahoma City’s path will be easy. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said despite being in the play-in, the Suns are a clear playoff-caliber team that will not be taken lightly. Phoenix finished 45-37 in the regular season and reached the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. Devin Booker is an All-Star who averaged 26.1 points and six assists per game this season.Suns coach Jordan Ott said he’s proud of the way his team bounced back from the play-in tournament loss to Portland on Tuesday and beat Golden State on Friday night to earn the No. 8 seed.“I think that the group that’s in that locker room has a ton of resilience and wants to do things different, and that’s what we stress from the get-go,” Ott said. “And sometimes the road’s not always the one that you choose and think it’s going to happen or the one that’s most traveled. Sometimes, it’s the least traveled. So we found our way in. Now, it’s onto the next thing.”O CanadaThree key members of Canada’s national team will compete in this series — Gilgeous-Alexander and defensive stopper Lu Dort for the Thunder and Dillon Brooks for the Suns.Brooks is one of the league’s best defensive players and best antagonists. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points this season.Rising starLast season, Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell entered the postseason coming off various injuries. He played sparingly in the postseason as a rookie.This year, he has been a key ingredient to Oklahoma City’s success while emerging as one of the league’s top reserves. He averaged 13.6 points this season after averaging 6.5 last season.Healthy J-DubWilliams went through the entire playoffs last season with a hand injury that required surgery. This season, he missed 19 games to start the season as he recovered and 30 as he healed from a hamstring injury.He’s healthy and ready to go.“I feel extremely fresh because I played, like, 12 games,” he said.On firePhoenix’s Jalen Green was scorching hot in the two play-in games. He had 35 points in the loss to Portland, then 36 in the win over the Golden State Warriors.That’s a significant jump from the 17.8 points he averaged in the regular season. His recent play will force the Thunder to decide whether to focus on him or Booker.“I’m very comfortable playing up there with Book,” Green said. “You kind of have to pick your poison of how you’re going to guard it. Even if it’s a heavy shift or not, we kind of play off each other in that situation.”Season seriesOklahoma City won three of the five meetings. In the most noteworthy matchups, the Thunder crushed the Suns 138-89 in the NBA Cup and the Suns beat the Thunder 108-105 in Phoenix on Jan. 4.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —
The Oklahoma City Thunder, no longer the young upstarts, begin their quest for an NBA title repeat on Sunday at home against the Phoenix Suns.
RELATED VIDEO ABOVE: Fan excitement on the rise amid countdown to Oklahoma City Thunder playoffs
The Thunder remain one of the youngest teams in the league. But now, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a group of grizzled playoff veterans that won two seven-game series last year, including the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Oklahoma City followed that up by posting the league’s best record of 64-18 this season, holding off the San Antonio Spurs to secure homecourt advantage. Now, the Thunder have embraced the new challenge of trying to win again.
“This playoff run is so unique and so different to the last one, and we have to have the ability to understand that every series is going to be different, every game is going be different,” Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams said.
Oklahoma City is rolling, having won 19 of 20 before resting starters the final two regular-season games. The Thunder have lost just one game since the All-Star break with Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup, and their last home loss with him was Jan. 25 against Toronto.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in the league with 31.1 points per game. Fellow All-Star Chet Holmgren averaged 17.1 points and 8.9 assists this season and was second in the league with 1.9 blocks per game.
None of that means Oklahoma City’s path will be easy. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said despite being in the play-in, the Suns are a clear playoff-caliber team that will not be taken lightly. Phoenix finished 45-37 in the regular season and reached the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. Devin Booker is an All-Star who averaged 26.1 points and six assists per game this season.
Suns coach Jordan Ott said he’s proud of the way his team bounced back from the play-in tournament loss to Portland on Tuesday and beat Golden State on Friday night to earn the No. 8 seed.
“I think that the group that’s in that locker room has a ton of resilience and wants to do things different, and that’s what we stress from the get-go,” Ott said. “And sometimes the road’s not always the one that you choose and think it’s going to happen or the one that’s most traveled. Sometimes, it’s the least traveled. So we found our way in. Now, it’s onto the next thing.”
O Canada
Three key members of Canada’s national team will compete in this series — Gilgeous-Alexander and defensive stopper Lu Dort for the Thunder and Dillon Brooks for the Suns.
Brooks is one of the league’s best defensive players and best antagonists. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points this season.
Rising star
Last season, Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell entered the postseason coming off various injuries. He played sparingly in the postseason as a rookie.
This year, he has been a key ingredient to Oklahoma City’s success while emerging as one of the league’s top reserves. He averaged 13.6 points this season after averaging 6.5 last season.
Healthy J-Dub
Williams went through the entire playoffs last season with a hand injury that required surgery. This season, he missed 19 games to start the season as he recovered and 30 as he healed from a hamstring injury.
He’s healthy and ready to go.
“I feel extremely fresh because I played, like, 12 games,” he said.
On fire
Phoenix’s Jalen Green was scorching hot in the two play-in games. He had 35 points in the loss to Portland, then 36 in the win over the Golden State Warriors.
That’s a significant jump from the 17.8 points he averaged in the regular season. His recent play will force the Thunder to decide whether to focus on him or Booker.
“I’m very comfortable playing up there with Book,” Green said. “You kind of have to pick your poison of how you’re going to guard it. Even if it’s a heavy shift or not, we kind of play off each other in that situation.”
Season series
Oklahoma City won three of the five meetings. In the most noteworthy matchups, the Thunder crushed the Suns 138-89 in the NBA Cup and the Suns beat the Thunder 108-105 in Phoenix on Jan. 4.