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Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, the playoffs are set to begin on April 20 with the top 8-seeded teams in each conference to clash to reign their supremacy in the 78th season of the NBA. In the first round of the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be up against the New Orleans Pelicans for a seven-match series starting from Sunday night at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City.
The visitors received a big setback before the start of their playoff season in the form of an injury to their power forward Zion Williamson, who suffered a left hamstring strain in their play-in clash against the Los Angeles Lakers. Speaking about the absence of the star forward of the Pelicans, former NBA legend Charles Barkley said that it would be a one-sided affair for Oklahoma if Zion misses the playoff games starting on Sunday.
The 23-year-old also missed their encounter against the Sacramento Kings and is set to miss the initial games in the play-off round against New Orleans. Speaking as a host at TNT channel, Barkley said, “Without Zion, Oklahoma City gonna sweep the Pelicans. That’s just my personal opinion.”
NBA Play-Offs season to begin on Sunday with Oklahoma taking on Pelicans
The Play-offs round begins from April 20 onwards with the top 8 seeded teams from both West and East zones competing against their respective team zones. In the West, the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunders will be against the 8th-seeded New Orleans Pelicans. In the next round, the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers will meet the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks.
Next up will be the 3rd seeded Minnesota Timberwolves match-up against Phoenix Suns and second-seeded Denver Nuggets against seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers.