After sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies, the Oklahoma City Thunder are officially a team to fear in the NBA playoffs—and Charles Barkley is making sure everyone knows it.
Despite two close games to close the series, the Thunder made a massive statement in Game 2, crushing Memphis by 51 points on Easter Sunday. That blowout all but sealed the series and sent OKC into the second round brimming with confidence.
Crucially, superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found his rhythm late in the series. After a quiet 15-point outing in Game 1, he exploded for 38 points in the series-clinching 117-115 win. With their top player locked in and the team clicking, OKC is now set to take on the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets emerged from a grueling seven-game battle, and ahead of Game 1, TNT analyst Charles Barkley made his stance on the matchup crystal clear.
“I’m not leaning, I’m going OKC,” said Barkley. “I haven’t seen anything in the West to make me think anyone can beat them.”
Barkley pointed to the Thunder’s depth as a potential game-changer, saying, “You’re going to see this for the first time. Denver hasn’t done anything with their bench. Oklahoma City probably has the best bench in the NBA. That’s going to be huge in this series.”
While the teams split the regular-season series 2-2, the Nuggets won their last meeting on March 10 thanks to a dominant showing by Nikola Jokic (35 points, 18 rebounds) and hot three-point shooting (56%). However, repeating that formula over a seven-game series may be a tall order.
Gilgeous-Alexander has already notched a 40-point game against Denver this season, and his offensive form could present a major problem for the Nuggets’ defense.
With momentum on their side and Barkley’s backing, the Thunder now have the league’s attention—and possibly its fear.
