And just like that, the Oklahoma City Thunder are kicking back for another week, waiting to see who’s next. After taking care of business against a battered Memphis Grizzlies squad — who were missing their star Ja Morant — the Thunder sealed a 117-115 win in Game 4 on Saturday. That sweep closed out their first-round series, and now, it’s all about hurry-up-and-wait mode once again.
A week without games sounds like a dream, right? Well, for OKC, it's starting to feel like a regular part of playoff life. After a week-long gap between the end of the regular season and Game 1 against Memphis, the Thunder now find themselves facing another stretch without action. Based on how things are shaping up, they’ll lace up their sneakers again sometime between May 3rd and May 6th. Another week off? Yeah, that's locked in.
Now, if you’re thinking, "Haven’t we been here before?" — you’re spot on.
Here’s the thing:
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Last year, OKC swept the New Orleans Pelicans on April 29th.
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They didn’t play the Dallas Mavericks until May 7th.
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This will mark the fourth time in two years they’ve had to navigate a week-long layoff.
Experience with these gaps is starting to feel like part of the Thunder’s DNA at this point.
But let's be real — it's a luxury most teams would kill for.
While OKC rests up, the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers are locked in a gritty, down-to-the-wire first-round brawl. Case in point? Just hours after OKC wrapped up their sweep, Aaron Gordon pulled off a massive putback dunk to push his team to a tie in their series. Yep — two games apiece. These teams are slugging it out, and it’s looking like their battle could easily stretch to six or even seven games.
And that’s exactly where OKC’s sneaky advantage comes in.
With the Nuggets and Clippers draining every ounce of energy in their fight, the Thunder will stroll into Round 2 fresh, rested, and relatively free of battle scars.
Meanwhile, their opponent? Probably feeling like they’ve been through a war.
Head coach Mark Daigneault is already crafting the game plan for this week of downtime.
"We've had these long layoffs before," Daigneault said. "We had a long layoff last year after the sweep. We had another during play-in week. I think we've made some real progress from last year to now in terms of how we handle it."
And he’s not wrong. The Thunder didn’t just sit around twiddling their thumbs last time. They used those breaks wisely — staying sharp, staying in rhythm, and showing up ready when it mattered most. Game 1 performances after those layoffs? Pretty dang solid.
It’s not just about chilling on the couch.
The Thunder treat these breaks like a mini training camp:
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They focus on staying conditioned.
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They sharpen up tactical details.
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They work on recovering any bumps and bruises.
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And maybe most importantly — they keep that competitive fire burning.
Because in the playoffs, momentum is everything. Losing it? Absolute killer.
Of course, this is what you call a “rich person problem” in the sports world.
Rest versus rust — it’s the classic dilemma every team would love to deal with. While other squads are gasping for air after marathon series, OKC gets to stay fresh. And they’ve earned it, plain and simple.
But make no mistake: the next round will be no cakewalk.
Whether it’s the defending-champion Nuggets or the seasoned Clippers who survive their series, the Thunder know they’ll have their hands full. Both teams have playoff-tested veterans who know exactly what it takes to win under pressure.
The question is — will OKC’s youth and energy, paired with that week of rest, give them the edge they need to storm through Round 2?
Let’s break it down real quick:
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If it’s Denver: They’ll be coming off an exhausting, emotional series. The Thunder's quickness and depth could cause serious problems for a team with tired legs.
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If it’s LA: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, when healthy, are forces. But again, a grueling first round could leave them just a little bit slower — and OKC will be ready to pounce.
One thing’s for sure:
This Thunder team isn’t some feel-good underdog story anymore. They’re the No. 1 seed for a reason — and they’re acting like it.
Their sweep of the Grizzlies wasn’t flashy. It was efficient. It was clinical. They did what they were supposed to do against a team missing its biggest weapon. That’s what good teams — serious teams — are supposed to do.
And now? They’re sitting pretty.
They’ll use this week not just to recover physically, but to lock in mentally. They'll review film, tighten up their game plans, and make sure they’re ready to pounce the second Round 2 tips off.
Because no matter who comes out of that Nuggets-Clippers slugfest, OKC won’t just be waiting — they’ll be ready.
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