The NBA Playoffs are here, and the Phoenix Suns will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round. This game will be held at the Paycom Center on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 3:30 PM. Fans can catch the action live on ABC.
The Phoenix Suns come into this game with a recent win against the Golden State Warriors, where they scored 111 points. Jalen Green was a standout with 36 points. Before that, the Suns lost to the Portland Trail Blazers by 4 points. They also had a strong win against the Thunder earlier, scoring 135 points.
The Oklahoma City Thunder recently faced the Suns and lost by 32 points. Before that, they had a loss to the Denver Nuggets by 20 points. However, the Thunder had a solid win against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 128 points. Chet Holmgren led with 30 points in that game.
Thunder Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a strong regular season in 2026. They achieved a record of 64 wins and 18 losses. At home, they won 34 games and lost 8. Their performance on the road was also impressive with 30 wins and 10 losses.
Mark Daigneault is the head coach of the Thunder. The team is part of the Western Conference and the Northwest Division. They finished first in both their conference and division. However, they ended the regular season with a two-game losing streak.
In recent games, the Thunder faced some tough opponents. They lost to the Phoenix Suns by 32 points with a score of 135-103. Before that, they lost to the Denver Nuggets by 20 points, with a score of 127-107. Their last win was against the Los Angeles Clippers, where they scored 128 points to the Clippers’ 110.
Key players for the Thunder include Branden Carlson and Nikola Topić. Carlson scored 26 points in the game against the Suns. Topić contributed with 18 points and 14 assists in the same game. Chet Holmgren also had a standout performance against the Clippers, scoring 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
Suns Preview
The Phoenix Suns had a regular season record of 45-37. At home, they won 25 games and lost 16. On the road, they had 20 wins and 21 losses. They ranked 7th in the Western Conference and 2nd in the Pacific Division.
In the postseason, the Suns played two games with a record of 1-1. Both games were at home. They had a win streak of one game. During the Play-In Tournament, they also had a 1-1 record, with both games played at home.
Jalen Green was a standout player for the Suns. In one game, he scored 36 points with a shooting percentage of 70%. Devin Booker also contributed with 20 points and 8 assists in the same game. Jordan Goodwin added 19 points and 9 rebounds.
In the postseason, the Suns scored an average of 110.5 points per game. They allowed 105 points per game. Their field goal percentage was 48.8%, and they made 13.5 three-pointers per game. Defensively, they allowed opponents to make 14 three-pointers per game.
Statistical Breakdown for Thunder vs Suns
The game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns could be shaped by several key stats. The Suns have a strong field goal percentage and effective field goal percentage, ranking 6th in both. They also make a good number of three-pointers per game. The Thunder, though lacking postseason stats, have key players like Branden Carlson and Chet Holmgren who can score and rebound well. The Suns’ defense allows fewer points per game, which could be a factor against the Thunder’s offense.
- Thunder Regular Season Record: 64-18
- Thunder Home Record: 34-8
- Thunder Road Record: 30-10
- Suns Regular Season Record: 45-37
- Suns Home Record: 25-16
- Suns Road Record: 20-21
- Suns Postseason Points Per Game: 110.5
- Suns Field Goal Percentage: 48.8%
- Suns Three Pointers Made Per Game: 13.5
- Suns Points Per Game Allowed: 105.0
- Thunder Key Player: Branden Carlson (26 points vs. Suns)
- Thunder Key Player: Chet Holmgren (30 points, 14 rebounds vs. Clippers)
Betting Insights
As the game approaches, bettors are keen to explore the trends that might influence their decisions. Both teams have shown patterns in their recent games that could impact the outcome. Below are the top five trends to consider when placing bets on this game.
- The away team has covered the spread in 4 of their last 5 games.
- The home team has hit the over in 3 of their last 4 games.
- The away team has gone under the total in 6 of their last 7 games.
- The home team has covered the spread in 5 of their last 6 home games.
- The away team has hit the over in 2 of their last 3 away games.
Free Betting Prediction for Thunder vs Suns
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been strong at home this season. With a record of 34 wins and 8 losses, they have shown they can win on their court. Key players like Branden Carlson and Chet Holmgren have been performing well, which could give them an edge.
The Phoenix Suns have struggled on the road with a record of 20 wins and 21 losses. However, they have some standout players like Jalen Green, who can make a difference. Their defense has been solid, allowing only 105 points per game in the postseason.
Considering the Thunder’s strong home record and the Suns’ road struggles, the Thunder are likely to win. The odds favor the Thunder, and their recent performances suggest they can cover the spread.
- Our Free Prediction: Thunder -14.0
