Oklahoma City’s recent slide, a four-game losing skid against four non-playoff teams, increases its odds of drawing the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.
Go figure.
These teams seem preordained to meet in the postseason. Three of the past five seasons featured a Spurs-Thunder playoff series. Oklahoma City advanced in 2012 and 2016, with the Spurs blowing a 2-1 series lead in the latter series. The “Beautiful Game” Spurs ousted the Thunder from the postseason in 2014.
A fully formed Thunder squad, one with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, presented a natural mistmatch against the older and less agile Spurs.