We got some clarity about the NBA playoff picture on Thursday as the Phoenix Suns ended their seeding game plan with a perfect 8-0 record and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Milwaukee Bucks.
As a result, the Spurs were eliminated, while the Blazers faced a fairly simple scenario: win or go home.
Knowing that the picture of the postseason has become most clear, the NBA announced the first round schedule for playoffs, which will begin on August 17th.
With respect to the Rockets and Thunder, they will begin their first round series on Tuesday, August 18th. Here is the full schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday 18 August at 18:30 ET Game 2: Thursday 20 August at 15:30 ET Game 3: Saturday 22 August at 18:00 ET Game 4: Monday 24 August at 16:00 ET Game 5 *: Wednesday 26 August, time TBD Game 6 *: Friday 28 August, time TBD Game 7 *: Sunday 30 August, time TBD
For Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul, there could not have been a more dramatic first opponent. Westbrook was the Thunder’s franchise player, and Paul was keen to try to prove himself to the Rockets after the team traded him away. Unfortunately, Westbrook’s status for the series is unknown due to a quad injury, but if he can play, he will certainly do so.
Interestingly, both teams seemed to benefit from the trade, although there is a certain amount of irony in the fact that the Thunder could actually enter the showdown as the higher seed – no one saw that as a possibility.
Now the teams will have the chance to square in the postseason. It’s hard to write a more dramatic script.
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