There's also the Russell Westbrook factor. For the first time since being traded in 2019, the 36-year-old will play at OKC in front of a playoff crowd on Monday for Game 1. He was robbed of that opportunity with the Houston Rockets in 2020 due to The Bubble.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still awaiting its Round 2 matchup to reveal itself. The NBA has already announced the start time and dates for Games 1-4 of Round

For the first time in the Nikola Jokic era, the Denver Nuggets will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in a playoff series.