OKLAHOMA CITY -- Entering the playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder were the youngest team in NBA history to secure a No. 1 seed since seeding began in 1984.
After missing the playoffs the past three seasons and working on a rebuild, the Thunder's reward as the top seed in the strong Western Conference was facing the 49-win New Orleans Pelicans, who had to fight through the play-in tournament but also boasted a league-best record on the road.
Seven of the 11 Thunder players who took the floor Sunday night were playing in their first playoff game.