The identity of the Lakers' first-round opponent has been revealed. With their loss tonight to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Oklahoma City Thunder fall to the eighth seed in the West and are rewarded with a weekend visit to Los Angeles. Prepare yourself for a great many Durant vs. Kobe stories over the next several days.
The Lakers and Thunder have played four times this season, with the Lakers thrice prevailing. In their most recent meeting, on March 26, OKC did sick and unnatural things to L.A., winning 91 to 75. The Thunder led by 33 at the end of the third quarter of that game. The schedule of the teams' upcoming playoff series has not yet been announced, though I suspect Game One will be on Sunday afternoon.
Here at SS&R, we'll have a ton about this matchup in the days ahead. For more about the Thunder, feel free also to drop into our sister site Welcome to Loud City. If you do, please be cool to your fellow hoops aficionados.
This is going to be fun.