The 2016 NBA playoffs will give us their first marquee matchup when the Thunder visit the Spurs on Saturday for Game 1 of the Western conference semifinals.
Thunder vs. Spurs, 2016 NBA playoffs: Time, TV schedule and live stream for Game 1
No second round matchups features as much star power as Spurs vs. Thunder.
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Both teams had no problem advancing past the first round. The Spurs swept the shorthanded Grizzlies with ease, outscoring them by an average of 22 points. The Thunder stumbled once against the Mavericks but recovered and went on to win the series in five games by an average of 18 points. The two juggernauts were expected to crush outmatched foes and did just that. Now the real playoffs will begin for both squads.
The Spurs once again changed their identity to fit LaMarcus Aldridge, becoming less high-paced and more post-oriented. Their defense was the best in the league and their offense ranked third. They posted the seventh best point differential in league history and would have been the favorite to win it all if not for the Warriors' historic run. They have to be considered the favorite to advance.
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant remain the best one-two punch in the league and that will always give them a chance to beat anyone. The two stars had First Team All-NBA-level seasons and will try to advance to the conference finals for the third time in the last five years. Failing to do so could cause Durant to reconsider his commitment to the franchise as he enters free agency in the offseason, so the stakes are even higher than usual for the Oklahoma City.
The season series was tied at two games apiece, with both teams winning at home. There were too many absences to really read much into those results, however, so this will be the first time we see how they stack up against each other at full strength.
The last few times this two contenders played each other in the postseason the results were unpredictable series that featured high quality games, and this time won’t likely be the exception.
How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder Game 1
Place: AT&T Center
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Streaming: Watch TNT
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