Thunder opens playoffs on Sunday

The Lakers, the defending NBA champions, are the main attraction, but ABC picking Game 1 of the Thunder-Lakers series Sunday afternoon also shows that league scoring champion Kevin Durant and the Thunder are getting some love from national TV executives.

The league released the playoff schedule late Wednesday night after the Thunder notched its 50th win.

For OKC fans, both homes games in the Ford Center for Games 3 and 4 are 8:30 p.m. CDT tipoffs which isn’t bad considering Western Conference playoff games sometimes can start later.

Here is the schedue:

(Thunder vs. Lakers)

Game — Date, Arena (TV network) CDT

Game 1 — Sunday, at Staples Center (ABC) 2 p.m. CDT

Game 2 — Tuesday, at Staples Center (TNT) 9:30 p.m. CDT

Game 3 — Thursday, at Ford Center (TNT) 8:30 p.m. CDT

Game 4 — Saturday, at Ford Center (ESPN), 8:30 p.m. CDT

Game 5* — Tue., April 27, at Staples Center (TBD)

Game 6* — Fri., April 30, at Ford Center (TBD)

Game 7* — Sun. May 6, at Staples Center (TBD)

* if necessary