OKC Thunder and the 'Group of Death.' Predictions and explaining the NBA in-season tournament

Nate Chute, The Oklahoman

For the first time, the NBA is holding an in-season tournament. A total of 67 games will be played as part of the tournament between Nov. 3 and Dec. 7, with a championship awarding the winner the first-ever NBA Cup.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a difficult road ahead with a tough few matchups. They were drawn into a group featuring the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.

The tournament is modeled after similar arrangements in soccer (excuse us, "football") leagues in Europe. Here's what you need to know about the Thunder and the inaugural tournament.

Yes, NBA in-season tournament games count

Well, almost all of them. Outside of the championship game, each game result will be reflected in the regular season standings.

There's also prize money at stake, with the championship team being awarded $500,000. The second-place team receives $200,000 apiece. Semifinalist players get $100,000, while quarterfinalists get $50,000.

Mussatto: Ease up on OKC Thunder expectations for this season. The good times are now.

There's no NBA in-season tournament bracket (yet). Let us explain.

The tournament begins with group play. The 30 NBA teams were randomly drawn based on last season's regular season record into groups of five teams, with three groups in each conference.

After playing each team in their respective group once, with two games at home and two games away, the team with best record will advance to the knockout round. But the team that finishes second in their group with the best record out of the three groups in their conference will also advance as a wildcard.

Once we reach this stage of the tournament, we'll see a bracket with four teams in each conference playing in single-elimination games. The quarterfinals will be played on Dec. 4 and 5, the semifinals on Dec. 7, and finally, a championship team between an Eastern and Western Conference team on Dec. 9.

OKC Thunder schedule: How to watch the Thunder in 2023-24 NBA season

OKC Thunder are in West Group C AKA the 'group of death.' Do NBA tournament predictions favor them to advance?

In the Thunder's group are the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors.

A difficult group featuring competition from the likes of Trey Lyles, Victor Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony-Towns, and Steph Curry, the group has been dubbed the "group of death" by people like CBS Sports NBA writer Brad Botkin, who predicts the Warriors will emerge on top but says the outcome of their first game against the Thunder would determine the group's winner.

At least one other insider suggests the Thunder have what it takes to win the group, too. NBA.com senior writer Steve Aschburner bucked the picks of others on the website by picking the Thunder to win the group, saying the "Thunder crave a playoff-like experience."

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) gets ready to guard New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. The Thunder lost 110-106.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) gets ready to guard New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. The Thunder lost 110-106.

As of now, most insiders are picking the Warriors to win this group as the veteran amongst several young and hungry squads.

Thunder schedule for NBA tournament; when is the NBA Cup championship?

Tournament games are played on Tuesdays and Fridays in November. Here are the dates and times for those Thunder games:

  • Thunder vs. Warriors - Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in OKC

  • Thunder vs. Kings - Friday, Nov. 10 p.m. in Sacramento

  • Thunder vs. Spurs - Tuesday, Nov. 14 in OKC

  • Thunder vs. Timberwolves - Tuesday, Nov. 28 in Minneapolis

Should the Thunder advance to the knockout round and then the championship game, they'd be playing for the NBA Cup on Saturday, Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.

Because some teams will play more tournament games than others due to advancing to the knockout stage, you may see TBD on the Thunder's schedule. Should they not advance to play in any of those games, the team will play regular season games the same week as the quarter and semifinals.

See the Thunder's court for the NBA tournament, City Edition jerseys

The Oklahoma City Thunder's In-State Tournament court will used for home games against the Golden State Warriors (Nov. 3) and the San Antonio Spurs (Nov. 14).
The Oklahoma City Thunder's In-State Tournament court will used for home games against the Golden State Warriors (Nov. 3) and the San Antonio Spurs (Nov. 14).

The floor at the Paycom Center is very blue.

The team plans to wear these City Edition jerseys for both of their group games at home.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has injury, will miss first tournament game between Thunder, Warriors

The Thunder will open tournament play without their star guard. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out with a knee injury sustained during the team's loss against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

Facing a formidable offense in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Thunder will need to look elsewhere on offense to keep things close against the Warriors.

The game begins at Paycom Center at Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: OKC Thunder tournament schedule, predictions for West Group C

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