Ranking the 4 play-in tournament teams Thunder could face in Round 1 of NBA playoffs

Enjoying the perks of the first seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder will get to kick their feet up this week and relax. For the third straight year, they won't learn their Round 1 opponent until one day before. The play-in tournament has gardened the unique circumstance.

Arguably Adam Silver's best brainchild, the play-in tournament is an extra espresso shot added to your fully caffeinated iced coffee filled with enough sugar to make your dentist squeal. Four teams enter. Only two leave battered and bruised against the top two seeds.

The Thunder will face one of the Phoenix Suns , Portland Trail Blazers , LA Clippers or Golden State Warriors in Round 1 of the 2026 NBA playoffs. The Suns-Trail Blazers loser will face the Clippers-Warriors winner on Friday for the eighth seed. Here's who the Thunder should root for to advance as Thunder Wire ranks the four play-in tournament teams from easiest to most difficult matchups: 4.

Golden State Warriors A bunch of zombies, the Warriors have been one of the worst teams in the league over the last two months. Stephen Curry missed over two months with a knee injury before his recent return. None of that has mattered, though.