After the unexpected trade of star James Harden to the Houston Rockets after the 2012 season, questions arose about the Oklahoma City Thunder’s ability to return to the playoffs again. Although the doubters have been silenced with the team’s No. 1 seed set in stone, the team is now set to face their former teammate and his new team in the first round of the NBA Playoffs 2013.
As the returning runner-up from last year’s NBA Finals, the Thunder have the experience, drive, and a chip on their shoulders necessary to make a push all the way through to the finals. They topped both the Western Conference and Northwest Division with a 60-22 record, and went 2-1 against the eighth-seeded Rockets during the regular season, with both of the wins surpassing a 20-point margin.
The Thunder is returning to the playoffs for the fourth year straight and fourth time in five years since the former Seattle Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City. The drama will unfold on April 21 when the Thunder hosts the Rockets for Game 1, and then again a few nights later on April 24, all at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. Games 3 and 4 will move to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on April 27 and 29, and if no winner has been decided after four games, first-round action will continue in Oklahoma City on May 1, Houston for Game 6 (May 3), and Oklahoma City for Game 7 (May 5). Be there throughout the postseason journey when you buy Thunder playoff tickets from Vivid Seats.
