OKC Thunder playoff history: How Oklahoma City has fared in NBA playoffs
The OKC Thunder is set to host its first playoff game since 2019 at Paycom Center on Sunday night.
OKC earned the top seed in the Western Conference after finishing 57-25 and will face either the Sacramento Kings or New Orleans Pelicans.
Here’s a look at OKC’s playoff history.
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2020 NBA playoffs: OKC falls in first round
The 2020 NBA playoffs were held in a bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and OKC fell to the Rockets in the opening round. The series went seven games, and James Harden led the Rockets as he averaged 29.7 points, eight assists and 6.3 rebounds per game.
2019 NBA playoffs: OKC falls in first round
OKC made it to the opening round this season before losing to Portland in five games. Damian Lillard was exceptional in this series as he led the Trail Blazers, averaging 33 points, six assists and 2.4 steals per game. Paul George averaged 28.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per matchup for the Thunder.
2018 NBA playoffs: OKC falls in first round
Another season that ended in the first round, the Thunder lost to Utah in six games. Donovan Mitchell averaged 28.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Jazz, while Russell Westbrook led OKC in points per game (29.3), rebounds (12), assists (7.5) and steals (1.5).
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2017 NBA playoffs: OKC falls in first round
Houston blew past the Thunder in five games in the opening round as James Harden averaged 33.2 points, seven assists and 6.4 rebounds per game. This was Russell Westbrook’s MVP year. He averaged a triple-double for OKC in this series, scoring 37.4 points, grabbing 11.6 rebounds and dishing out 10.8 assists per game.
2016 NBA playoffs: OKC reaches Western Conference finals
Kevin Durant’s final year with the Thunder ended when OKC fell to Golden State in seven games in the Western Conference Finals. With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson carrying Golden State, the Warriors rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the series before losing to LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Durant joined Golden State after the season.
2014 NBA playoffs: OKC reaches Western Conference finals
San Antonio ended OKC’s season this year, beating the Thunder in six games in the conference finals. The Spurs went on to defeat Miami, winning their fifth championship.
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2013 NBA playoffs: OKC falls in Western Conference semifinals
OKC was the No. 1 seed and advanced to the conference semifinals after beating Houston in six games, but Russell Westbrook had a season-ending right knee injury in Game 2 after colliding with Patrick Beverley. The Thunder then faced Memphis and lost in five games as Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies to their first conference finals appearance in franchise history.
2012 NBA playoffs: OKC reaches NBA Finals
This was OKC’s best season. The Thunder made its lone NBA Finals appearance but lost to Miami in five games. OKC won the series opener before the Heat responded with four straight victories. LeBron James won his first championship and was named the NBA Finals MVP after averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.
2011 NBA playoffs: OKC reaches Western Conference finals
Dallas beat the Thunder in five games in the conference finals before winning its first and only NBA title. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks as he averaged 32.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while Kevin Durant averaged 28 points and 9.4 rebounds per matchup for OKC.
2010 NBA playoffs: OKC falls in first round
OKC made it to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed and had a respectable series against the eventual champion Lakers, which beat the Thunder in six games. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 23.5 points per game in the series before winning his fifth NBA title.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder playoff history: How Oklahoma City fared in NBA playoffs
