OKC Thunder In-Season Tournament Group Announced
While Summer League is taking place in Las Vegas, the NBA took the opportunity to unveil the groups for the In-Season Tournament, which will take place for the first time starting in November and ending early December.
For the Oklahoma City Thunder, they were drawn into West Group C, which includes the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves.
There are three groups in each conference, the Eastern and Western Conference, accounting for six total groups. Each group will see the team with the best record advance to the quarterfinals. Outside of that, the two teams with the best records that didn't advance will play in a wildcard game in the quarterfinals.
The group play matchups will take place from November 3rd to November 28th on Tuesdays and Fridays. Each team will host two games and play two additional games on the road.
The Thunder will host the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, while having to travel to take on the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The four teams that advance out of the quarterfinals will travel to Las Vegas to determine the winner of the NBA Cup, a new trophy teams will be able to win. The semifinals will take place on Want to join the discussion? The semifinals will take place on December 7th with the championship coming on December 9th.
Each of the games outside of group play will be single elimination games.
Of the Thunder's opponents, the most interesting may be the Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama matchup when the Spurs travel to Oklahoma City. Both players are 7-footers with unique skillsets.
Traveling to Sacramento will be a tough challenge for the Thunder, as the Kings host a hostile environment. Four of the teams in West Group C saw postseason play last season, as the Thunder were a postseason team and each of the Warriors, Kings and Timberwolves each made the Playoffs.
In the play-in, the Timberwolves defeated the Thunder to advance to the playoffs, so the Thunder have a chance to get some revenge.
The newest edition should add an interesting wrinkle to the NBA regular season, and the Thunder should be able to make an interesting run in their group.
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