NBA Playoffs 2016: Saturday TV Schedule, Odds and Bracket Predictions

While Sunday will feature two Game 7 clashes in the first round and the start of a second-round series, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will have the spotlight all to themselves Saturday.

Despite the fact that the first round is ongoing, OKC and San Antonio are tasked with kicking off the second round with what promises to be an entertaining series between two of the most talented teams in the NBA.

The Spurs are favored to advance to the Western Conference Finals, but a team boasting the combination of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can’t be disregarded.

Ahead of Saturday night’s Game 1 tilt, here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch, as well as predictions for how the contest will play out.

Saturday Schedule

Bracket Predictions

Thunder Player to Watch: Serge Ibaka

Share Tweet

While all eyes are usually on Durant and Westbrook when it comes to the Thunder, the biggest key to OKC’s success in Game 1 and in the series overall may reside on the front line.

Big man Serge Ibaka enjoyed a strong first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and a team-high 1.4 blocks per game. He’ll have his work cut out for him in the second round, though, as he will clash with the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan in the paint.

Based on the Congo native’s recent history against the Spurs, he figures to be up to the task.

According to Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman, the Thunder were a much better team than the Spurs in their head-to-head meetings this season when Ibaka was on the floor:

Thunder vs Spurs this seasonSerge Ibaka’s 106 minutes on floor: +41Serge Ibaka’s 38 minutes off the floor: -24(Ibaka rested final game)

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 30, 2016

Oklahoma City’s core group of players has dealt with injury woes quite often in recent years, but when Ibaka, Durant and Westbrook are all healthy, the Spurs don’t enjoy much success against the Thunder, per NBA.com’s John Schuhmann:

OKC has won 12 of last 18 games vs. SAS (including playoffs) that Durant, Westbrook & Ibaka have all played, going back to …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com