Thunder breeze through the first round for a 3rd straight year and brace for tougher games ahead
Oklahoma City’s first-round dominance in the NBA playoffs continues. Oklahoma City is 12-0 in the first round over the past three years. “It's a really good feeling," guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of the sweep.
PHOENIX (AP) — Oklahoma City’s first-round dominance in the NBA playoffs continues. The road should get at least a little tougher in the coming weeks — but there's little doubt the defending champions are well-equipped to defend their title. The Thunder finished off a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, winning 131-122 after pulling away in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City is 12-0 in the first round over the past three years. “It's a really good feeling," guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of the sweep. “Just for our confidence as a group, it's good to get the playoff run started the right way.
You never know what can happen — and usually the later you go, the better the teams, and the series won't go like that. You want to give yourself as many days as possible to rest. ” The 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander looked every bit like the reigning Most Valuable Player against the Suns, averaging 33.
8 points and shooting 55. 1% from the field. He was at his best in Game 3, scoring 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting .