Can the OKC Thunder win the 2024 NBA Finals?

Can the Oklahoma City Thunder make it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012?

Can Nikola Jokic bring the Denver Nuggets a second consecutive NBA championship?

We'll find out soon enough, as the 2024 NBA Playoffs kick off on Saturday with four first-round games. The Thunder open their first round series against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

Here are the NBA playoff predictions from The Oklahoman's sports department.

Play-in tournament picks: Lakers vs. Pelicans | Warriors at Kings | Heat at 76ers | Hawks vs. Bulls | Kings at Pelicans | Bulls at Heat

1st round pick: Celtics vs Heat | Knicks vs 76ers | Bucks vs Pacers | Cavaliers vs Magic | Thunder vs Pelicans | Nuggets vs Lakers | Timberwolves vs Suns | Clippers vs Mavericks

Joe Moussatto, Columnist

first round

• Celtics beat Heat in 4 games
• Cavaliers vs. Magic in 5
• Pacers defeat Bucks in 7 games
• Knicks defeat 76ers in 7 innings
• Thunder beat Pelicans in 6 innings
• Mavericks beat Clippers in 6 games
• Timberwolves defeat Suns in 7 games
• Nuggets beat Lakers in 7 games

conference semifinals

• celtics vs cavs
• Knicks vs Pacers
• Thunder to Mavs
• Nuggets vs Wolves