NBA Playoffs Rd 1: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets

[King Taharqa]

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder (52-26)

STARTING 5

PG #0 Russell Westbrook

6'3 187 lbs

UCLA '08

21.8 PPG 8.2 APG 4.6 RPG 1.8 SPG

SG #2 Thabo Sefolosha

6'7 215 lbs

Switzerland '06

4.9 PPG 4.4 RPG 1.4 APG

SF #35 Kevin Durant

6'9 230 lbs

Texas '07

27.8 PPG 6.9 RPG 88.0 FT% 35.1 3PT%

PF #9 Serge Ibaka

6'10 240 lbs

Congo '08

9.8 PPG 7.6 RPG 54.6 FG%

C #5 Kendrick Perkins

6'10 275 lbs

Clifton J Ozen HS '03 (Beaumont, TX)

6.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 49.2 FG%

BENCH

PG-Eric Maynor

SG-James Harden

SF-Daquan Cook

PF-Nick Collison

C-Nazr Mohammed

HEAD COACH

Scott Brooks

[King Taharqa]

(5) Denver Nuggets (48-30)

STARTING 5

PG #3 Ty Lawson

5'11 195 lbs

North Carolina '09

11.5 PPG 4.6 APG 1.0 SPG 37.4 3PT%

SG #6 Arron Afflalo

6'5 215 lbs

UCLA '08

12.6 PPG 3.7 RPG 2.4 APG 42.3 3PT%

SF #21 Wilson Chandler

6'8 225 lbs

DePaul '07

15.3 PPG 5.7 RPG 1.7 APG 36.2 3PT%

PF #4 Kenyon Martin

6'9 240 lbs

Cincinnati '00

8.3 PPG 6.0 RPG 2.4 APG

C #31 Nene Hilario

6'11 250 lbs

Brazil '02

14.6 PPG 7.7 RPG 61.1 FG%

BENCH

PG-Raymond Felton

SG-JR Smith

SF-Danilo Gallinari

PF-Al Harrington

C-Chris "Birdman" Andersen

HEAD COACH

George Karl

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This looks like it could be an exciting first round matchup. The Thunder and Nuggs are both playing good basketball late in the season. Both teams are deep with young talent. Even though the Nuggs have more experience as a unit, I like the Thunder to advance past them in 6 games.

[Swarly]

Shame these teams have to play eachother. Now that the Bobcats are out, I'm rooting for either of these teams to go all the way.

Oklahoma has the super star, but Denver has so much depth it's unreal. I also think Thunder will take this in 6 games, but a game 7 wouldn't surprise me.

[Millions]

Thunder in a series that goes the distance

[King Taharqa]

I may have made this one too prematurely. Denver more than likely isnt moving from the 5 spot, but OKC is only 1 game behind Dallas for 3rd in the West. If they're able to catch them, this matchup wont happen. We'll see how it plays out.

[King Taharqa]

This one holds up, Thunder WILL meet the Nuggs in Round 1 of the Western Conference Playoffs.

[Kakarot]

Thunder in 6

[HeatCheck]

Thunder in 6

Agreed.

[HeatCheck]

Nuggets couldn't miss in the 1st quarter, Thunder couldn't miss in the 2nd. Thunder getting to the line kept them in the game in the first and in the second Westbrook and KD took over. A lot of energy in this game from both teams and I love Thunder's fans.

And former Bobcat Felton is doing well. I swear he has made like 4 floaters.

[HeatCheck]

Nene just had to be helped off because he rolls his ankle, kinda like what happened with Aaron Gray in the NO-LAL game. That's big if he can't come back.

EDIT: It was a knee to knee injury. not ankle.

[HeatCheck]

Durant with back to back 3s.

[HeatCheck]

Durant is absolutely tearing it up! Can't miss.

[HeatCheck]

Westbrook with a clutch foul line FG with 22 secs left.

Both Durant and Westbrook set their playoff career highs this game, they shot so well.

Mr Why Not had 31

KD had 41

This is going to be the most exciting 1st round playoff series and very well can go 7.

[HeatCheck]

Loving this series! Like I said I believe that this is the most exciting series in the first round. In tonight's games there has been a lot of swings, lots of ties, and lead changes.

Maynor is having a good half and OKC actually looks better with him on the court. Westbrook is sometimes out of control with his passes and takes bad shots. He is still more talented and still my dude but sometimes he needs to slow things down. KD is tearing it up in the first half especially early on.

Nene and Perkins getting physical like usual.