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Thunder playoffs first-round opponent prediction, which team is most threatening?
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- Thunder playoffs first-round opponent prediction, which team is most threatening?
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As the Oklahoma City Thunder await its first-round opponent ahead of defending the NBA title, momentum is undoubtedly on its side entering a best-of-7 series against either the Portland Blazers, the LA Clippers , the Phoenix Suns , or the Golden State Warriors . While the Thunder are the odds-on favorite to repeat as champion, one of their four potential first-round opponents will look to push them to the brink of elimination.
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Here are two of the Thunder's potential most favorable and competitive first-round opponents.
Thunder's least competitive first-round opponent: Warriors
With All-Star Stephen Curry facing the Clippers under a minutes restriction in the Warriors' Play-In matchup, coach Steve Kerr will have his hands full against All-Star Kawhi Leonard . Without Jimmy Butler and the uncertainty of Kristaps Porzingis , the Warriors would most likely be a first-round sweep against the Thunder, whereas the Clippers, coming off the best regular-season turnaround in NBA history, are fighting for a shot at the champions.
Starting the season with a historic 24-1 record, the Thunder reigned supreme atop the Western Conference standings throughout the entire regular season. The Thunder also swept its regular-season series against the Warriors, 3-0, including a 37-point blowout (131-94) in January.
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This year's Warriors team is a far cry from the one that hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2022, when few believed they had enough to win it all. If they are to be squeezed into the 8th seed, expect to see a repeat of the Grizzlies ' fate in their best-of-7 series against the Thunder in last year's first round of the playoffs.
Thunder's most competitive first-round opponent: Clippers
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Clippers shocked the NBA world in 2025-26, becoming the first team in league history to finish a regular season two games over .500 (42-40) after a 6-21 start. With All-Star Kawhi Leonard playing at an MVP level in the latter half of the regular season, and a move at the deadline that injected youth, athleticism, and shooting, the Clippers found their stride, winning 36 of their last 55 games in the regular season.
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It will be a tall task for the Clippers, but one that head coach Tyronn Lue will prep his team for in the event of facing the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. However, don't expect the Clippers to make it interesting. Outside of perhaps winning one game, it's difficult to envision them forcing Games 6 or 7 against the NBA's best defense on the highest level of competition.
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