The surprise No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the youthful Oklahoma City Thunder, begin their quest for a deep playoff run against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Game 1 of the first round series is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday evening.
The Thunder closed the regular season on a five-game winning streak, vaulting themselves to the No. 1 overall seed, above Denver and Minnesota. Home-court advantage should make Oklahoma City even more potent; the Thunder are 33-8 at home this season.
New Orleans emerged from the Play-In as the No. 8 seed, but their two games — a loss to the Lakers and a win over the Kings — took a toll. Late in the loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday night, star forward Zion Williamson suffered a left hamstring strain. The injury dampened a 40-point, 11-rebound performance by Williamson.
The Pelicans, who are 8-5 without Williamson this season, will go into Game 1 without their bona fide star.
Here is everything that you need to know ahead of Game 1 of Thunder vs. Pelicans.
What channel is Thunder vs. Pelicans on today?
- TV channel: TNT
- Live stream: Sling, NordVPN
Game 1 of Thunder vs. Pelicans will air nationally on TNT. Fans can also stream the game on Sling.
Sling is the home for avid sports fans, offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams, with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1, and more.
If Thunder vs. Pelicans is not available to watch live in your location, or if you're traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming service form any device, anywhere in the world.
Thunder vs. Pelicans start time
- Date: Sunday, April 21
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET | 6:30 p.m. PT
Thunder vs. Pelicans will tip off around 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 21. The game will be played at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Thunder, as the No. 1 seed, have home-court advantage and will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. New Orleans will host Games 3, 4 and 6.
Thunder vs. Pelicans tickets
- Tickets: StubHub
Tickets for NBA Playoff games are now available on StubHub. To view seating charts and prices for individual games, use the link below.
Thunder vs. Pelicans odds via BetMGM
For the full market, check out BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.
Thunder vs. Pelicans schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the NBA Playoff series between the Thunder and Pelicans:
(1) Thunder vs. (8) New Orleans
| Date | Game | Time (ET)/Result | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 21 | Game 1 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| April 24 | Game 2 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| April 27 | Game 3 | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| April 29 | Game 4 | TBD | TBD |
| May 1 | Game 5 | TBD | TBD |
| May 3 | Game 6 | TBD | TBD |
| May 5 | Game 7 | TBD | TBD |
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