Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1 Preview, Picks & Odds for Sunday, April 19, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | Apr 18, 2026, 7:23pm

The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder begin their first-round series at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. The Thunder won three of five matchups this season, although one of the losses was the final game of the regular season when everyone rested.

Suns vs. Thunder Betting Analysis

Phoenix dominated its play-in game against Golden State by scoring 30 points off turnovers and holding Stephen Curry to 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Jalen Green also deserves his flowers. He scored 35 points versus Portland and followed it up with 36 points against the Warriors. If Green continues his dynamic scoring, then the Suns’ offense can perform better than expected.

Will Mark Williams play? The big man missed Phoenix’s last game with a foot injury. His length, rebounding, and rim protection are crucial because Oklahoma City’s offense is built on rim pressure.

The Thunder won 64 games this season and once again led the NBA in defensive rating. They can play double-big lineups or go very small with Jalen Williams at center, so Oklahoma City oozes defensive versatility.

On the other end, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the most consistent scorer in the league. But three-point shooting and the minutes when Gilgeous-Alexander rests are offensive concerns that could burn the Thunder.

The best bet is taking Devin Booker to score a maximum of 23 points. Oklahoma City features the most disruptive trio of perimeter defenders across the association, and it will throw everything it has at Booker. Luguentz Dort, in particular, has shut down Booker over the past few seasons.

Since Oct. 2024, Booker has shot 38.1% from the field in five matchups against the Thunder. He scored 12, 19, 20, 21, and 24 points in those contests.

Suns vs. Thunder Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Devin Booker Under 23.5 Points (-102)
Score Prediction: Thunder 121, Suns 107

Suns vs. Thunder Game Odds

Suns vs. Thunder Game Information

Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
Time: 3:40 p.m. ET
Network: ABC
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Venue: Paycom Center – 226.5 ppg; 22-19 O/U
Series Score: 0-0
Series Preview

Suns vs. Thunder Betting Resources

Suns vs. Thunder Key Players

Suns

Devin Booker – Last Game: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists
Jalen Green – Last Game: 36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Dillon Brooks – Last Game: 13 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Last Game: 20 points, 1 rebound, 11 assists
Jalen Williams – Last Game: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists
Chet Holmgren – Last Game: 30 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.