Tip-Off: 2:30 PM CT
Location: Moda Center (Portland, Oregon)
Television: ABC
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
After what seemed like a grueling season at times has come to an end, the Oklahoma City Thunder has finally reached the playoffs, and they have a favorable matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers. Although OKC does not have home-court advantage, the Thunder swept the Blazers in the regular season, including 2 victories against the Blazers in Portland.
Regular season series records do not matter too much once you enter the playoffs, but the Thunder had success against Portland this season because of matchup strengths. One of the few matchups that was a struggle for OKC was playing against Jusuf Nurkic down low, but he suffered compound fractures in his left leg about a month ago, and he is obviously out for the season.
Winning Game 1 is not of the utmost importance, and the Thunder really only needs to steal one in Portland to gain home-court advantage, but picking up a win today would be a statement not just to Portland but to the rest of the NBA that Oklahoma City is ready to make some noise in the playoffs.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Terrance Ferguson
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Steven Adams
Trail Blazers
- PG: Damian Lillard
- SG: CJ McCollum
- SF: Maurice Harkless
- PF: Al-Farouq Aminu
- C: Enes Kanter
Injuries
Thunder
- Paul George (right shoulder soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon) is OUT.
Trail Blazers
- Jusuf Nurkic (fractured left leg) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 22-22 against the Trail Blazers (13-9 at home, 9-13 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Trail Blazers 4 times, lost it 5 times, and tied twice.
- The Thunder swept the Blazers 4-0 this season (2-0 at home, 2-0 on the road).
- After losing 9 straight to the Blazers at the Moda Center, the Thunder has won the last 2 matchups in Portland.
Game Notes
- The Thunder enters the playoffs on a 5-game win streak while the Blazers enter the playoffs on a 3-game win streak.
- The Thunder is 7-3 in the last 10 games while the Blazers are 8-2 in the last 10.
- Oklahoma City was 22-19 on the road this season while Portland was 32-9 at home.
- Oklahoma City went 28-24 against the Western Conference this season while Portland went 29-23.
- The Thunder is 1-1 after 3 days of rest while the Blazers are 1-0 after 3 days of rest.
- Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes
- Portland Trail Blazers Official Game Notes
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