The first round of the NBA playoffs has concluded, with teams now preparing for the conference semi-finals in both the East and West. John Schuhmann has provided an updated look at each team’s performance after the first round.
Thunder Sweep Phoenix
Oklahoma City completed a series sweep against Phoenix, marking the third straight year they have swept in the first round. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 31 points. This year marks the 23rd consecutive year that there has been at least one sweep in the first round of the playoffs.
However, Oklahoma City lost Jalen Williams to another hamstring strain late in Game 2. They are 41-10 without Williams.
Spurs Victorious Over Portland
The San Antonio Spurs secured their place in the conference semi-finals by defeating Portland in five games. The Spurs won Game 3 in Portland without Victor Wembanyama. This victory marks the first of what the source anticipates will be many playoff series wins for the Spurs’ young core.
Playoff Power Rankings
The Thunder and Spurs hold the top spots in the Power Rankings. The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping to upset them. The Thunder and Spurs are a combined 64-12 since Feb. 1.
Key Stats from Round 1
- The 16 teams averaged 110.5 points scored per 100 possessions in the first round.
- There were 96.0 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes.
- This is down from 114.8 points and 100.2 possessions in the regular season.
Next Up
The Thunder will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semi-finals. Over their four regular-season meetings, the Thunder outscored the Lakers by 29.3 points per game. They outscored L.A. by 92 points (53.2 per 100 possessions) in Gilgeous-Alexander’s 87 minutes on the floor. The Spurs will face Minnesota.
The Thunder swept through the first round for the third straight year. Their next game is Tuesday against LAL.