The Denver Nuggets were pushed to a seventh game in the first round but shook off the ghosts of playoffs past to get the win Denver travels to Oklahoma City for Game 1 of the series on Monday up until a Game 7 when there would be a couple days of rest All times are Eastern (* = if necessary)Game 1: Nuggets at Thunder (Mon While Mark Daigneault and crew will study Jeff Van Gundy’s solid game plans against Jokic from the first round — with Isaiah Hartenstein trying to fill the Ivica Zubac role — the simple fact is Jokic is the best basketball player on planet earth right now and there is only so much any human being can do for the Nuggets to have a chance in this series That peak Murray appeared in spots against the Clippers — such as Game 4 when he had 43 points and 7 assists — but he has not been around consistently all season (or in the last series) Now Murray is going to have to do it with Lu Dort Alex Caruso and other elite defenders focused on him The Nuggets’ long-running issues when Nikola Jokic is off the court are no secret and that played out again this past regular season with Denver having a -8.3 net rating when Jokic sat In the first round of the playoffs against the Clippers that climbed to a -26.4 net rating without Jokic and if Oklahoma City can dominate the non-Jokic minutes at the level Los Angeles did or more even if those non-Jokic minutes are limited the NBA will announce the winner of the MVP award for this season and Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will finish 1-2 likely with Gilgeous-Alexander winning his first-ever award That should light a fire under Jokic and the Nuggets the Nuggets don’t have a defender who can keep him out of the paint While Denver will throw multiple players at SGA to slow him that opens the door for Jalen Williams and others to step up for the Thunder.—Kurt Helin With Christian Braun taking a leap and Jamal Murray healthier this Nuggets team isn’t really any worse than last year’s team that entered the playoffs the clear favorite to win the West Jokic provides the highest floor any offense can have and Denver won’t be overwhelmed by OKC’s size But OKC are in a tier of their own in the West - the greatest net rating of all time speaks for itself Expect Murray to struggle with the army of elite perimeter defender OKC can throw at him and for the Nuggets to eventually run out of gas playing effectively a 6-man rotation considering the effort that Denver has already expended in these playoffs and their inability to match the double big lineups that the Thunder have been deploying It’s not a huge gap in terms of net rating for the best five here so would be reasonable if Denver gets one early or at home before fading The Nuggets did well in splitting the season series with the Thunder 2-2 This will be an interesting series to call given that Dave Adelman was not the head coach during any of the four meetings against the Thunder Mike Malone’s approach was simple: Limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact on the game and force others to beat you If the Thunder got big games from Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams How Adelman will try to slow down this potent Thunder attack will be vital to their success They win game one by margin after the Nuggets just went seven games in an intense and physical series with the Clippers They win the next home game and lose in Denver in game three when the Nuggets avoid a 3-0 series deficit as well as some scouts and front office people around the NBA who still don’t believe in Oklahoma City as a contender and think this is the series where OKC gets tested and probably exposed by a proven they defend at an elite level and can beat teams a lot of different ways I saw the Nuggets in person three times in the first round and came away thinking “This is not a championship team this season.” Here is where Denver’s ride ends in a series where Denver will sell out to stop SGA and get beat by Jalen Williams A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome If you or someone you know has a gambling problem 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}.css-v4v4rs{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}@media (min-width:0px){.css-v4v4rs{display:block;}}@media (min-width:1100px){.css-v4v4rs{display:none;}}.css-mps3fk{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 the Denver Nuggets are headed to the conference semifinals to face a historically dominant Oklahoma City Thunder team that just set the record for single-season point differential Conventional wisdom suggests OKC should win this series relatively easily but Denver has the best player in the world and loads of postseason experience The Nuggets can at least keep this competitive even against a team that almost looks destined to win the title Predictions for how it will all play out can be found below Jamal Murray already has the reputation of a playoff legend when he swung the series with a 43-point outburst in Game 5 Few players across the history of the league seem more motivated by pressure ratcheting up than Denver's longtime point guard Given his postseason track record, it's hard to imagine any team shutting him down completely. But this team has enough defense to at throw him off for significant chunks of the series. AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver PostConsidering the fact that Nikola Jokić just averaged a triple-double for the entire regular season, and then followed that up averaging another one in the first round, this might not feel all that bold. But again, this OKC defense is loaded. And that doesn't just apply to the perimeter. The Thunder have a pair of lengthy, high-IQ rim protectors in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. They can at least shrink Jokić's passing lanes and obstruct his vision. Even Jaylin Williams can come off the bench and at least give him some fouls. But none of those big men possess the unique combination of size, mobility, and perhaps most importantly, physicality that Ivica Zubac just threw at Jokić. And while the Thunder might be able to throw some schematic wrinkles at the big man that will take him some time to process, he will process them. And that will keep the triple-doubles rolling in. Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Thunder mostly roasted the Memphis Grizzlies throughout their first-round sweep, but they did manage to hold Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 27.8 points (nearly five shy of his regular-season average) on 40.2 percent shooting. That feels like more of an outlier than a sign of things to come, though. Denver's perimeter defense held up fairly well against Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, but neither is as slithery in getting to the rim, as consistent in drawing fouls or as capable of getting to their spots as SGA is right now. If anything, the sub-standard series against Memphis may signal that a breakout is on the way for Gilgeous-Alexander. And I'm feeling a big one. At some point in this series, he'll top his playoff career high of 38 points. In fact, he'll clear 40. They won 18 more games in the regular season They broke the single-season record for point differential They have waves of perimeter defense to throw at Murray But Jokić and Murray are battle tested to the highest degree Russell Westbrook looks as energized for a postseason as he has in years Christian Braun is having a mini star breakout Denver's experience and championship mettle won't allow it to go down without a fight Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty ImagesFor most of last season it felt like the numbers were screaming at us that the Boston Celtics were going to win it all the Thunder obliterated a lot of the same indicators that pointed to Boston in 2023-24 And each of the five teams behind them on that second list (the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors and the 2023-24 Boston Celtics) won the title. Denver won't make it easy. There's too much championship equity on that roster. But the Thunder are headed to the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City Police are searching for a missing Northwood Elementary student last seen early Monday morning was initially reported missing by his family Authorities now believe he may have wandered into a wooded area south of Piedmont near Northwest Expressway and North Piedmont Road officers combed the area in search of the boy and was last seen wearing a green Minecraft outfit and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City firefighters responded to an apartment fire near Lyrewood Lane and W Wilshire Boulevard Fire officials said it started on the first floor of a complex The flames broke the windows and burned the second-floor apartment A resident on the second floor said he was getting his kids ready for school and daycare when they saw the smoke He said he grabbed towels to cover his and the kids' faces as they made their way out Fire officials said the property managers will have to find new units for the residents impacted For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here. A new mural celebrating Oklahoma City Thunder standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is turning heads in downtown OKC Read more: Locked In: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stays ready as Thunder await next challenge Unveiled over the weekend near Main Street and Lee Avenue the mural is part of a collaboration with Converse and showcases the rising NBA star a fan favorite and potential MVP contender has played a key role in the Thunder’s recent success SEE ALSO: Denver Nuggets advance with 120-101 in Game 7, set to face OKC Thunder Monday With the Thunder deep into the playoff games supporters hope that the mural is just the beginning of more Gilgeous-Alexander highlights and show their pride for the Oklahoma City Thunder Graham joined the News 9 team in February of 2025 He is dedicated to sharing the diverse stories that have shaped his country and his community Read more: Locked In: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stays ready as Thunder await next challenge SEE ALSO: Denver Nuggets advance with 120-101 in Game 7, set to face OKC Thunder Monday OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the NBA's brightest stars Now, he's the star of a mural that's in the works in downtown Oklahoma City. The art piece, which is in collaboration with Converse is located on the side of a building at 626 W The project is being done by Overall Murals, a media company located in Brooklyn, New York. It's responsible for other pieces such as a mural of the late Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles and a mural of former Thunder star James Harden in Brooklyn Gilgeous-Alexander's mural will be a short walk from that of another Thunder fan favorite. The mural of former OKC center Steven Adams can still be seen on the side of The Paramount at 701 W It's a well-deserved honor for Gilgeous-Alexander, who's the betting favorite to win MVP The 26-year-old guard averaged a league-high 32.7 points during the regular season and led OKC (68-14) to its best record in franchise history OKC will face the winner of the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs More: When does OKC Thunder play? Schedule for second round of NBA Playoffs Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @JTheSportsDude. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com 2 Houston Rockets forced a first-round Game 7 against the No It will play Game 1 of the second round against the No with Games 2-4 each coming two days after the prior contest Denver and LA battle for a winner-take-all chance to take on Oklahoma City tonight at 6:30 p.m Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander called the two possible opponents "really good" in Friday afternoon's practice media availability He said the series has resulted in a 3-3 tie for a reason "We've seen both teams four times this year so we've kinda got a pretty good feel for them," Gilgeous-Alexander said It's just about us being ready for the challenge when the time comes." the Thunder went 2-2 with a +24 point differential against the Nuggets and 4-0 with a +39 point differential against the Clippers teams that won the regular season series against their opponent have gone 2-3 — but teams that finished with a higher point differential in the regular season series than their opponent have gone 5-1 6 Minnesota Timberwolves split the four-game regular season matchups Oklahoma City accumulated a +8.0 higher net rating than the No 8 Memphis Grizzlies across the regular season and would have a similar gap against the Clippers (+7.8) or Nuggets (+8.9) Teams with a higher regular-season net rating than their opponent have gone 5-1 so far Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 27.8 points on 52.1% true shooting 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in Oklahoma City's first-round sweep of Memphis He said he gets "excited for the games" this time of year but not too long of a break," Gilgeous-Alexander said so if we can get a team out of here in four (games) Even with eight days of rest between Oklahoma City's clincher in Memphis and second-round opener the three-time All-Star does not think finding motivation is an issue "It's just about making sure you're in shape You can do drills — Coach (Mark Daigneault) tries to make sure we get up and down a fair amount in practice just to make sure our conditioning stays." ETHAN BACA The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER The Clippers and Nuggets will play Game 7 on Saturday, exactly one week since the Thunder won a Game 4 to sweep the Grizzlies Game 7 for the Clippers and Nuggets. Off Day 7 for the Thunder team that awaits one of them in Round 2. And with the Round 2 series not scheduled to start until Monday the Thunder will be coming off eight days rest compared to two days off for Los Angeles/Denver “We’re gonna be very rested and recovered and healthy and they’ll have played high-leverage games all week while we’ve been practicing,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Friday We’re just trying to maximize our situation.”  there have been 15 series in which a team coming off a four-game sweep faced a team in the next round that had just played a seven-game series the team coming off a sweep beat the team coming off a seven-game slog More: Gregg Popovich 'literally changed' the Spurs and NBA forever, including OKC Thunder The only outlier came in the 2013 NBA Finals The Spurs swept the Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals while the Heat fended off the Pacers in a seven-game Eastern Conference Finals History would suggest the Spurs would win the NBA Finals but the Heat — thanks to an iconic Ray Allen 3-pointer in Game 6 — won in seven games Granted, rest isn’t the only factor here. A team that swept is often better than a team that won a series in seven. The most recent example coming in the Denver vs. Miami 2023 NBA Finals. Denver swept the Lakers in the West Finals. The Heat dispatched the Celtics in seven The top-seeded Thunder is/was going to be a heavy favorite over either the Nuggets or Clippers regardless of rest even if the Thunder is getting a little antsy but not too long of a break,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said The Thunder had seven days off last season between the first and second rounds OKC swept New Orleans while the Mavericks-Clippers series went six games The Mavs beat the more-rested Thunder in six MUSSATTO: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could become OKC Thunder's third NBA MVP in past 12 seasons The Thunder had eight days off heading into the West semifinals the Thunder beat the Grizzlies in seven in the West semifinals Dallas beat OKC in five in the West Finals “It’s good for us mentally and physically,” Thunder guard Cason Wallace said If there’s any team that could thrive on short rest it’d be the young Thunder a team on which a 31-year-old Alex Carsuo is treated like a senior citizen But the benefits of rest certainly outweigh any worries about rust “The cumulative travel bites into recovery for a number of reasons — sleep resources and just the psychological comfort of being in your own bed,” Daigneault said The Clippers or Nuggets were going to have their hands full against the Thunder no matter what But bludgeoning each other for seven games while the Thunder recharges is going to make a Round 2 upset even more unlikely History favors the team that sweeps (and sleeps) More: Why OKC Thunder is unbothered by physicality in NBA Playoffs: 'We really don’t care' Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com As the 2025 NBA playoffs dwindle to eight teams over two-thirds of the league has shifted its attention toward the offseason One of the biggest days of the summer is the NBA draft The two-day event allows franchises to replenish their rosters with young prospects While the Oklahoma City Thunder hope to capture a championship they still have a vested interest in the 2025 NBA draft That happens when you have draft capital tied to several other NBA franchises from the savvy long-term moves over the years The Athletic's Sam Vecenie published his latest 2025 NBA mock draft on May 1 This happened after the draft prospect entry list was published The Thunder could have several picks ranging from the No It'll all depend on how the lottery shakes out Vecenie had the Thunder with three draft picks Here's who the draft guru has the title contender adding to their young roster: the Thunder have valued players with terrific positional size as well as the ability to dribble as he’s a real creator at 7 feet with the ability to play in ball screens as a ballhandler as well as pass and make plays as a big man.. although I think that his overall movement skill has been underrated throughout the process.. Isaiah Hartenstein’s massive deal has a team option after next season and they likely will struggle to afford him along with the extensions that will be owed to Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams Jaylin Williams will also be owed an extension by next summer meaning they could easily be in the market for another big." "The Oklahoma City Thunder have a pretty significant roster crunch to the point that it will be difficult to bring two rookies onto the team next season I would expect them to look to either stash or trade one of these players; otherwise they will need to make significant movements near the end of their roster to dump a few of their recent draft picks He’s averaging nearly 10 points per game to go with five rebounds and three assists I think his defense is overrated by his counting stats but he’s physical and projects to be switchable on that end long-term as long as his footspeed stays at a real level." Thunder","startDate":"2025-05-05T21:30:00-04:00","location":{"@type":"Place","name":"Paycom Center OK","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress"}}}{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.nba.com"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"NBA Games","item":"https://www.nba.com/games"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"OKC vs DEN","item":"https://www.nba.com/game/den-vs-okc-0042400221"}]}Monday OKLA (KOKH) — A GoFundMe was started for a family impacted by a crash on I-35 near Goldsby on Friday a tire blowout caused a family of five to pull over when a semi hit their car along with 12-year-old Andre Byrd and 8-year-old Allan Byrd died "No mother should ever have to bury two children and a partner all at once please help us by sharing this campaign." An early morning collision on I-35 in Goldsby resulted in the death of one Oklahoma City man According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) the crash occurred at approximately 3:48 a.m Sanders collided with a car driven by 56-year-old Altus Barnett of Oklahoma City Barnett was pronounced deceased at the scene Sanders was transported to the Norman Regional Hospital Four passengers were traveling with Barnett and an 8-year-old male were also inside the car The cause of the collision is under investigation Nobody believes the Nuggets can beat OKC in the second round of the NBA Playoffs most basketball 'experts' think it's a long-shot for David Adelman's group to win more than a single game against the Thunder Oklahoma City is the betting favorite to win the NBA title The odds of Denver winning this series are +500 – or 5-to-1 – according to DraftKings Sportsbook Serbian silver lining for Nuggets fans - you still have the best basketball player on the planet: Nikola Jokic As Lloyd Christmas would say "so you're telling me there's a chance!" How can the Nuggets silence Oklahoma City's thunder and advance to the Western Conference Finals The road to an upset starts with one giant step by Denver's Joker In four games against OKC during the regular season Jokic averaged 24.5 points per game on 52.6-percent shooting from the field Both of those figures are below his season-long average and they're even skewed by his monster game on March 10th where he went for 35 points and shot 75-percent The other three match ups against the Thunder are more representative of what Jokic will need to avoid if Denver wants any chance to steal this series - inefficient shooting nights Jokic shot anywhere between 43-and-46-percent in those three games including one 2-for-10 effort from behind the three-point line on national TV but there have been times this season where he's seemingly felt pressure to take over a game and out-score Denver's opponent - that simply cannot happen against OKC but when Jokic scores between 18 and 26 points on 55-plus-percent shooting and double-digit assists Denver is darn near unbeatable The Joker's true superpower is his ability to engage and elevate his teammates the three-time MVP will need to be facilitator first and scorer second This is my go-to take as it relates Nuggets' success this season – Aaron Gordon is the straw that stirs this drink Gordon was a consistent force in that first round series against the Clippers although rarely does his box score statistical output paint the full picture of his impact on the game What was most encouraging to me was that - especially in game seven Gordon seemed to still have bounce in his game The calf injury that's hampered most of his season isn't going away until the year comes to a close for Denver but the immense amount of attention being paid to both rest and rehabilitation by both Gordon and the Nuggets' training staff is clearly paying off Gordon led the Nuggets with 22 points in that series-clinching victory and if they're going to wash-rinse-repeat that success (like I do with my "Aaron Gordon is the X-Factor" takes) the man fans affectionately call Mr Looking back at their regular season match ups against OKC Gordon really only played one true game against the Thunder – an October 24th drubbing in which nobody really played well in just seven minutes before exiting due to aggravating that calf injury on March 9 Gordon showed exactly how he can lead the Nuggets to an upset in this series: drain threes* He made two of three in that limited action and during the regular season he shot the best three point percentage of his career: 43.6-percent That's the highest three point shooting percentage on the Denver Nuggets (even higher than Nikola Jokic's 41.7-percent) and it would rank him sixth in the entire NBA (except he missed a few too many games due to injury to be ranked.. Gordon did not shot the long ball well in round one against the Clippers - finishing the series just below 30-percent But over the representative sample size of this season he's been an impact player from three and the Nuggets will need that firepower and floor spacing to match an Oklahoma City group that shoots nearly 40 three's per game *footnote: I'm taking for granted that Gordon's defense will continue to hover at an all pro level Both AG and Christian Braun will need to carry their excellent defensive effort from round one into round two if Denver is going to have any chance to win this series Russell Westbrook would make a terrible Jedi knight You need only read the Jedi code to know that Westbrook isn't cutout for that life: Westbrook's game relies on both emotion and passion - at times "To be a force of nature on the floor is what I pride myself on," says Westbrook when talking about his game it may be a missed shot," he says with a wry smile You just take it for how it comes and whatever happens you go with it." That's one way of describing the way Russell Westbrook can impact a basketball game but Westbrook himself also likes to put it a bit more simply: "To go in and [mess] [stuff] up," Westbrook says Westbrook was a key cog in earning a victory Westbrook may have been the most important player on the court Not only did he score 16 points – the same amount as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray – but he also forced five steals That was 33-percent of the Clippers' total turnover number in the game If the Nuggets are going to win this series they're going to have to steal at least one game in Oklahoma City and to do that they'll need someone to create instant-energy and silence the hometown crowd That second bit may be a challenge for Westbrook - he's still a legend in OKC and his emotions likely will be high returning to the genesis of his NBA career "He's an emotional guy and I think that energy drives him," says Jokic There's no way Denver wins this series without significant contributions from Russell Westbrook - so as fans we're going to have to ride that proverbial wave layups gone so awry they make you question your own sanity - all of that is on the table with this chaos merchant and a roar that may be loud enough to drown out both the NBA pundits and the Thunder but I've watched enough sports to know that when everyone believes they know what's about to happen - they're usually wrong The most popular bet heading into this series is for Oklahoma City to win in five games - suggesting Denver is only good value to win once They haven't played a basketball game since April 26th - they'll have had eight days off before facing the Nuggets on Monday That's the exact same number of off days that the Rockies had in between winning the NLCS and being swept by the Boston Red Sox in the 2007 World Series I'm not suggesting that Denver will sweep OKC but to think that this group with championship pedigree and a three-time MVP (let's be honest it should probably be at least four-time and probably five-time) is going to get run out of the post season is bordering on insane The westbound lanes of I-44 at Western Avenue have reopened after a deadly crash The crash involving two vehicles happened just after 2 a.m Authorities say 23-year-old Katelyn Callahan died at the scene while her 3 passengers were admitted in critical condition 29-year-old Sergio Ibarra and his passenger were admitted in fair condition OHP is still investigating the cause of the crash Download the News 9 Weather App Oklahoma City Traffic Map WATCH LIVE: Lucky Star Casino Skycam Network Download the News 9 Weather App Oklahoma City Traffic Map WATCH LIVE: Lucky Star Casino Skycam Network Clippers in dominating fashion at home in a series Game 7 ultimately winning 120-101 while mounting a lead as high as 35 Now having not played basketball in over a week meanwhile the Nuggets will have to turn around from their Game 7 to meet a team who curated one of the best regular seasons in NBA history Former MVP and NBA champion Nikola Jokic is going to be a daunting task with his supporting cast but Oklahoma City should hold great confidence heading into the series the Thunder and Nuggets split its four-game series at two wins apiece with Oklahoma City winning by 15 in one contest and 24 in the other—the Nuggets claimed a two-point victory as well as a 13-point win to close out the final game of the series back in March the Thunder managed a 3-1 advantage over the Nuggets as Oklahoma City could not get past the second round against the Dallas Mavericks and Denver could not get past the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves Denver will likely be catching their breath as they turn around to immediately come play in the Paycom Center this week of rest will be integral for the team to come in refreshed to compete against a talented team that just ground out a tough series against the Kawhi Leonard-led Clippers And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be ready to compete following a relatively lackluster series in the sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies He's averaged just above 30 points against the Nuggets this regular season putting up a 40-point game in one matchup and shooting effectively at nearly 50% from the field The Thunder and Oklahoma City as a whole is ready to play basketball again in Bricktown and both the team and the fans should come prepared heading into the first matchup of the series at 8:30 p.m NATHAN AKERNathan is a senior at the University of Oklahoma majoring in Public Relations set to graduate in May 2024. He holds experience covering multiple sports, primarily basketball, at the high school and collegiate level.  The Thunder -- who lost to the Mavs last year in this round -- square off with the Nuggets this time around. The Timberwolves will face the Warriors, who won a Game 7 over the Rockets on Sunday night to advance The Thunder and Wolves are favored to advance to the Western Conference finals but we know anything can happen in the playoffs Here are our expert picks for the West's second-round matchups Series odds (via FanDuel): Thunder -900 Oklahoma City is way too deep for the Nuggets to keep up with and they are going to carve up Denver's defense I'm fascinated by just how far the best player in the game can push the best team in the game but in the end OKC just has too much firepower on both sides of the ball I can see the Nuggets taking a couple of games if and when OKC goes cold from 3-point range If Isaiah Hartenstein stays out of foul trouble and I can't wait to see Nikola Jokić try to solve this puzzle and I won't argue with anyone who thinks he can extend this series But the Thunder are just a better team and have too many advantages -- rest defense -- that will add up and overwhelm the Nuggets Quinn: Thunder in 5. I can't in good conscience pick a sweep in a series that includes Nikola Jokić, but this is a mismatch at just about every other spot. The Thunder are deeper, they defend better at every position, they can play true five-out lineups unlike the Clippers and Oklahoma City should take it comfortably enough Pulling things together after what looked like a downward spiral is a great story for the Nuggets This as an absolute machine they're about to run into Denver just doesn't have the horses to compete on a nightly basis Wimbish: Thunder in 6. We already saw in the first round how Denver's lack of depth was a problem. It might have lost them the series had they not been playing against Game 7 James Harden The Thunder have the size to throw at Nikola Jokić while employing several All-Defensive players who can make like difficult for Jokić and Murray Series odds (via FanDuel): Timberwolves -178 Botkin: Timberwolves in 6. The Wolves will pose all the same problems for Golden State that Houston did with athletic, physical defense and a major size advantage. But the Wolves also have the superstar scorer in Anthony Edwards that the Rockets lacked but I think the Rockets series prepared them pretty well for this one and if they take care of the ball and are intentional about their spacing Maloney: Timberwolves in 7. These teams are much closer than their respective first-round series results may indicate and I've gone back and forth on this one. It's hard to pick against Steph Curry in the playoffs the Timberwolves pose many of the same challenges that the Rockets did for the Warriors in terms of athletic while also boasting an actual elite offensive engine in Anthony Edwards The Wolves' young star will be the difference Houston showed just how much trouble size and physicality can pose for the Warriors Anthony Edwards can actually lead a half-court offense the Warriors will start this series on the road Ward-Henninger: Warriors in 7. Fill it up again! The Warriors struggled with a younger, more athletic, more physical team in Round 1. And guess what? When it came down to crunch time it was Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green delivering time and time again Will the Wolves blow out Golden State a couple times If we thought Rudy Gobert feasted on the Lakers in Game 5 of the first round he might be having Thanksgiving dinner every game against an undersized Warriors team Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green has proven unwise nearly every time but I don't think the Warriors have enough to beat this Minnesota team four times The Nets have the potential with all their picks and all that cap space to dominate at least the early part of the off-season .. that ranking is likely to change in nine days but again it’s a measure (and nine teams have no first rounders at all; two with no picks at all.) according to the writers while at the same time suggesting a strategy for June 25-26 at Barclays Center Marks and Woo rank Brooklyn just behind Oklahoma City and ahead of the Jazz and Rockets making the top four two contenders and two rebuilding teams It’s not just the number of picks going forward for Brooklyn I’s that the Nets have all seven of their own first round picks from 2026 through 2032 .. Woo in assessing the Nets 2025 prospects likes what the Nets have put together for 2025 as well and like virtually every other pundit thinks that the Nets are unlikely to use all five picks the Nets development staff would have to work with five rookies as well as two players who are at 20 younger than a third of the projected draft class in 2025 The rebuilding Nets head into predraft season holding a league-high five selections in the top 40 creating an opportunity to remake their roster it’s hard to see them rostering five rookies and they can also open up additional cap room by consolidating some of their first-round selections Brooklyn could use help on the perimeter but should focus on adding talent regardless of need considering the fluidity of its situation and lack of obvious long-term building block on the roster The point about salary cap space is an often overlooked aspect not just for next season but for the end of the picks’ rookie deals If they wind up with a top four pick and keep the remaining three first round picks between Nos the cost in salary could reach $20 million next year Flagg alone would cost more nearly $14 million (We’ll take it!) The Nets of late have been signing second rounders to two-way deals which don’t count against the cap owners and GMs have to watch and worry about luxury taxes they can also use them in a trade or trades perhaps as a way to pick up firsts in the 2026 draft which like 2025 is filled with big stars like A.J Its depth compared to 2025 remains uncertain Brooklyn currently has three picks in the 2026 draft Get $50 of Premium Picks for FREE from Wunderdog Sports Claim your free credit now Oklahoma City has a seemingly limitless arsenal of defensive stoppers to throw at playoff phenom Jamal Murray who lit up the Los Angeles Clippers to the tune of 22.9 points in seven games with a team-best plus-minus of +6.9 He's now averaging 24 points across 72 career playoff games but is about to face one of this toughest challenges to date trying to score against the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all of whom rank in the 89th percentile or better in defensive estimated plus-minus.  A 34-point showing on March 10 during the Nuggets' 140-127 road victory over the Thunder is proof that Murray can overcome those assignments and still thrive offensively the Canadian guard only combined to score 29 points on 10-of-30 shooting Murray has only gone OVER a prop of 30.5 once in his last seven looks at Oklahoma City While he did go OVER in five out of seven games in the first round expect Murray to face more resistance against a superior opponent which has more size and depth in its backcourt to keep his numbers at bay.  For more on this player prop and others, be sure to check out Odds Shark's expert picks by clicking here As was his problem during the regular season Dort's shooting prowess against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round was far more efficient when taking the floor at home compared to being on the road at FedExForum Dort buried six triples through Games 1 and 2 at a 40-percent clip at the Paycom Center but then followed that up with a goose egg in Games 3 and 4 having missed all eight of his looks from deep the Montreal native shot just 35.3 percent from the perimeter but that number rose in a big way to 44.6 percent in 37 home games and that leads me to believe that the opener on Monday against Denver could get Dort back into a groove with his long range game His season high in points actually came versus the Nuggets in the aforementioned March 10 defeat knocking down eight 3-pointers and finishing with 26 points in 34 minutes and prior to stringing together three-straight UNDERs for this number in the Memphis series Dort had three or more 3-pointers in eight of his prior nine outings.  Find out why Nick's fading Isaiah Hartenstein as a part of today's +627 NBA parlay.  I believe these odds are wildly overpriced for a player who's shot well on the road and is a proven playoff performer Braun will likely be left wide open and have a ton of opportunities from deep tonight.  Your subscription has been successful and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox Follow live coverage of the Knicks vs. Celtics in the NBA playoffs today The favorites in each of the conferences start their second-round series on Monday The Boston Celtics open the night against the New York Knicks in a regional rivalry the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets who aren’t far removed from a Game 7 win against the LA Clippers especially after Cleveland’s Game 1 loss at home to Indiana on Sunday the Thunder are not only favored in the West Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub Given the Knicks’ run as a playoff team in four of the past five seasons it feels a little surprising that these teams last met in the postseason in 2013 but it would be a shock if they win this one Boston got by Orlando in five games and looked like a defending champion in that series The Celtics are a big step up from the young Detroit Pistons team that outplayed the Knicks for significant portion of that series The Knicks won all three games in Detroit in the first round to take that series in six games It would be a major upset if they keep that going in TD Garden As the defending champions who won 10 more games in the regular season the Celtics also won all four meetings in the regular season the Celtics won by two in overtime in Madison Square Garden The other three games were not very competitive What can New York do to make this is a competitive series Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 61 points Jayson Tatum was on fire for Boston in the first round He averaged 31.3 points per game in four games Throw in the expected return of Jrue Holiday after the guard missed the final three games against Orlando and Boston will be a tough out for Tom Thibodeau’s team Denver is fresh off obliterating the Clippers in a Game 7 to get to this series That was just two days ago and the reward is to travel to the team that won 68 games in the regular season The Nuggets aren’t likely to be intimated though Denver is still just two years removed from a title and Oklahoma City hasn’t made the conference finals since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the franchise there in 2016 these teams split four meetings in the regular season Both Oklahoma City and Denver have players that command the full attention of opposing defenses Nikola Jokić manipulates teams masterfully no matter how they choose to try to stop him Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the player who could win NBA MVP despite Jokić having arguably the best season of his career Both stars are also triple-double machines although only one of them has shown that so far in the postseason. Jokić had three triple-doubles last round not that it mattered with the Thunder seemingly able to blow Memphis away whenever they wanted to After shooting 14-for-42 in the first two games at home SGA cranked it up with two 30-plus point nights to close out the series We won’t see a lot of Jokić and SGA going head-to-head but seeing these two superstars lead their teams against one another in the postseason should be good theater ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication Dan Santaromita is a senior editor for sports betting who has worked at The Athletic since 2021. Dan previously worked at NBC Sports Chicago and ProSoccerUSA. He is a University of Missouri graduate who resides in Chicago. Follow Dan on Twitter @TheDanSanto DEN (4)NBA playoffs: What to expect in Thunder-Nuggets seriesKia MVP award finalists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić clash in the Western Conference semifinal showdown The matchup of Kia MVP finalists Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has all the attention of Kenny • Download the NBA App One team took just four games to reach this Western Conference semifinals series six and three quarters to blow open the clincher over the L.A there hasn’t been a lot to separate Oklahoma City and Denver lately – they split four games this season as far as head-to-head playoff history goes The semis is as far as both of them got a year ago one of them is guaranteed a trip to the Western Conference Finals You have to go back eight years to find this sort of individual showdown inside a postseason series OKC’s Russell Westbrook and Houston’s James Harden the 1-2 finishers in Most Valuable Player balloting This time we get the top two presumptive vote-getters in Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs for what is after all a regular-season award SGA won the scoring crown (32.7 ppg) for the league’s most successful team (68-14) Jokić already has three of the past four Michael Jordan Trophies and reigns as the NBA’s best player regardless of a single-season’s vote total SGA has enough reliable help that he could have an off-night without calamity (though he typically doesn’t scoring 20+ in 75 of the 76 games he played) this is a bonus battle inside the greater war Will Denver be able to offer similar resistance against the West's top seed Jamal Murray’s reputation as a playoff riser precedes him He started to earn it in the Orlando “bubble” playoffs in 2020 and solidified it with his play in Denver’s 2023 title run Never an All-Star despite plenty of talent Murray has averaged 18 points in eight regular seasons compared to 24 in 72 playoff games through Saturday’s Game 7 clincher over the Clippers the latter boosted by being able to lock into one foe for two weeks in the postseason He embraces his heavier responsibilities in the postseason For Thunder: Watching OKC night after night is like attending a masterclass in stifling team defense The Thunder ranked first overall in defensive efficiency and led the NBA in steals opponents’ turnovers and points off those turnovers They have the personnel to guard big or guard small from pests Lu Dort and Alex Caruso to versatile Jalen Williams to bigs Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein They were 19-0 when holding their foes below 100 points and 50-1 when keeping them below 110 (Denver was 1-16 when it failed to crack 110 points) And while Jokić (30) and Murray (11) combined to score 30+ points 41 times OKC only permitted an opposing scorer to do that 12 times all season For Nuggets: Imagine a title-contending boxer who for 30 seconds of every three-minute round habitually wandered around the ring sticking his jaw out That’s how it seems every time Jokić heads to the bench Denver’s struggles in so-called “non-Jokić minutes” have been chronicled throughout the big fellow’s prime – and helped him win the Nuggets boasted a plus-10.5 net rating with him on the court… and a minus-9.3 points per 100 possessions when he sat is surviving when their triple-double threat gets a breather It’s not just about the team’s backup center it’s how integral Jokić is to running a fully functional attack 8.8 — In the regular season, the Thunder had the second-best turnover differential in the 48 seasons that turnovers have been counted. And in the first round, they committed 8.8 fewer turnovers than the Grizzlies the second-biggest turnover differential in any playoff series in those same 48 years The Nuggets ranked 25th in turnover differential (1.3 per game more than their opponents) in the regular season, and they had 12 more turnovers (54-42) than the Thunder over the four-game season series. But they were able to split the four games with advantages in shooting OKC learned a year ago how to navigate long layoffs between series They didn’t rust because they never really rested instead logging some intense and focused practices will either be well-oiled after their Game 7 dominance of the Clippers or a little fried from the quick turnaround to Monday Denver’s Finals experience two years ago isn’t nothing and more capable of shape-shifting with a far tighter defense Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA The 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament took place April 15-18 The NBA Playoffs continue with the Conference Semifinals starting on May 4 The finalists for the seven major regular season awards have been revealed OKC's team success behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander boosts him over Nikola Jokić for No the Thunder's layoff won't be the thing that slows them down Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones glamour up alongside Angel Reese for the annual fashion event Kenny Atkinson experienced a setback on his coaching journey it fueled the 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year Follow the NBA Playoffs with our Nightly Pulse blog featuring all the latest news scores and highlights from around the league Atkinson guides Cavaliers to a 64-18 record and the No 1 seed in the Eastern Conference during 1st year at the helm RotoWire highlights the top performers after the 2nd full week of the 2025 NBA Playoffs "He figured out a pattern of success," says Zach Hahn who was coached at Butler by Celtics GM Brad Stevens Revulsion at deadly Oklahoma City explosion in 1995 has faded are heard today as far-right ideas storm the US The world’s first reaction to the young military veteran and far-right radical who blew up a federal building in Oklahoma City 30 years ago this month was near-universal revulsion at the carnage he created and at the ideology that inspired it A crowd yelled “baby killer” – and worse – as 26-year-old Timothy McVeigh was led away in chains from a courthouse in rural Oklahoma where the FBI caught up with him two days after the bombing He had the same crew cut he’d sported in his army days and stone cold eyes most of them office workers who had been providing government services along with 19 young children in a day care centre directly above the spot where McVeigh parked his moving truck packed with ammonium nitrate and other explosives Bill Clinton, then president, rallied the country by vowing justice that would be “swift, certain and severe”. His attorney general wasted no time announcing she would seek the death penalty. Whatever flirtation the country had been entertaining with rightwing militia movements in the wake of a national assault weapons ban that enraged gun rights activists and controversies over the heavy-handedness of federal law enforcement were stunned by the sight of firefighters pulling dead babies out of the wreckage they had been full of heady talk of war against the government but many of them imagined this would involve an attack on federal judges who had displeased the movement “Didn’t he case the place?” one acquaintance of McVeigh’s asked incredulously “The bastard has put the Patriot movement back 30 years,” lamented an erstwhile mentor of McVeigh’s from Arizona Oklahoma City federal building on 20 April 1995 as rescuers continued searching for bodies in the aftermath of the explosion Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesFast-forward those 30 years and the movement is not only very much revived but has moved from the outer fringes of American politics to the very centre McVeigh wanted to strike at what he saw as a corrupt secretive cabal running the US government – what Donald Trump and his acolytes refer to as the Deep State and are now busy dismantling McVeigh believed the US had no business extending its influence around the world or becoming entangled in foreign wars when white working-class Americans from industrial cities such as Buffalo were suffering – an early expression of Trump’s America First ideology which won him tens of millions of blue-collar votes last November a white supremacist power fantasy called The Turner Diaries black people and internationalists for perverting America’s true destiny – a sentiment now finding coded expression in Trump’s twin wars on immigration and on diversity McVeigh believed it was up to ordinary citizens like him to take up arms and fight against a tyrannical ruling order because that was what the country’s founders had done during the American war of independence The T-shirt he wore when he was arrested carried a quote from Thomas Jefferson: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” The parallels have not been lost on political veterans of the 1990s. Clinton himself observed in a recent HBO documentary: “The words [McVeigh] used “Their beliefs and values are allied,” said Janet Napolitano who in 1995 played an administrative role in the bombing investigation as US attorney for Arizona and went on to run the Department of Homeland Security under President Obama “It is a far cry to say that there are people in political power in the United States now who want to blow up federal buildings But the notion that the country has somehow been stolen from them that they are trying to take away our guns – that has become a very accepted view among many.” Present and former members of the governing class still have reason to fear threats from the far right either because they have been tagged as Deep State enemies by groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers or because they have been identified by President Trump as targets for “retribution” college campus protesters and former associates turned critics of the president Seasoned national security experts like Napolitano fear it may not stop there, however, and worry particularly about judges who have issued rulings hostile to administration interests “Those far-right groups – they’ve all been given permission,” she said “Pardoning all the January 6 defendants sends a terrible message about the rule of law in this country just like purging from DoJ and the FBI sends a terrible message.” Free newsletterGet the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning Convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh Photograph: Jim Bourg/ReutersIt was a very different world when McVeigh washed out of the army in 1991 following his service in the first Gulf war After bouncing from one dead-end job to another and racking up thousands in sports gambling debts he hit the road in his Chevy Geo Spectrum to sell army surplus supplies and copies of The Turner Diaries at gun shows around the country This was the very definition of a marginal existence McVeigh himself told people the government had inserted a computer chip in his backside culminating in a deadly fire that killed more than 80 men these events were not generally viewed as indications of deep structural rot but rather as operational screw-ups to be addressed through internal after-action reports and congressional review was shocked by the sight of Bradley fighting vehicles moving in to force an end to the Waco siege because he had driven Bradleys in the Gulf and struck him as an abomination that cried out for revenge Despite his later protestations to the contrary compelling evidence suggests that McVeigh targeted the daycare centre as revenge for the children who died at Waco told the FBI she remembered McVeigh visiting four months before the bombing pretending to be an active member of the military with his own young children He asked a lot of strange questions about security The FBI confirmed that McVeigh was indeed in Oklahoma City at the time along with his friend and fellow veteran Michael Fortier who ended up cutting a deal with prosecutors in exchange for his testimony against McVeigh at trial When agents first showed photographs of the dead children to Fortier he jumped out of his seat and exclaimed: “This is about Waco Those parents did not kill their own children!” “These guys were just evil people,” said Kenneth Williams one of the first FBI agents to question Fortier Williams believes Fortier should have received a far harsher sentence than the 12 years he and the government agreed on Much of the high emotion surrounding the bombing has been lost in the intervening decades. Outside of Oklahoma, few Americans under 30 know much, if anything, about it. In the age of Trump, that looks like a lost opportunity – for the country to understand the nature of the disillusionment and rage building for decades in “rust belt” cities and in farming communities across the heartland. “Two evil men did this, and two men paid,” the Oklahoma governor at the time of the bombing, Frank Keating, said when the trials were over. Yet few in government or on the prosecution team believed that everyone involved in the plot had been caught, or that those who had been identified necessarily received the punishment they deserved. “Some people got away with bloody murder, Fortier being one of them,” Williams, the former FBI agent, said. Read moreThe government dropped several promising lines of investigation – into a radical religious compound in eastern Oklahoma some of whose members later accused others of involvement in the bombing at the time the chief propagandist of the anti-government right who was reported to have said in 1994 that “some kid” was going to blow up a building in Denver The justice department’s fear was that following one or more of these leads and pointing to a wider conspiracy would weaken the case against McVeigh when the directive from above was to obtain the death penalty at all costs “a strategic decision was made to focus and get a clean straightforward case against McVeigh and not pursue every rabbit down its hole.” And so the wider story – of a heartland America desperate and cynical about its government of a small but growing minority willing to embrace the notion that one day it might have to take up arms against tyranny in Washington – went largely untold we know at last how important that story was Andrew Gumbel is the author of Oklahoma City: What The Investigation Missed – And Why It Still Matters (William Morrow This article was amended on 19 April 2025 An earlier version referred to the American civil war when revolutionary war (or war of independence) was meant This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Okla.— Saturday marks 30 years since the Oklahoma City bombing It remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S Amy Downs remembers the sky in Oklahoma City as a perfect shade of blue like it was a gorgeous spring morning," said Downs Her husband had dropped her off in front of the federal building where she worked in a credit union for employees She checked in with her best friend Sonja Sanders then sat at her desk next to a big window overlooking downtown came and sat down beside me to ask me a question and that's when the bomb went off," Downs said I can barely breathe and it's hot and it stinks and it's burning my throat And I remember wondering if I was dead or alive." but she was buried upside down under 10 feet of rubble "And so at that point I really started experiencing what people talk about when they say they had life flashing before their eyes just realizing that I had not really lived," Downs remembers Rescuers finally saw her hand sticking out of a pile of debris After six and a half hours they pulled her out "I remember taking those first breaths of fresh air and just like promising God right then I will never live my life the same," Downs said Over the following days she learned 168 people died including her best friend Sonja Sanders and 17 of her coworkers Murrah building had been destroyed by a homemade bomb; a deadly combination of fertilizer diesel fuel and other chemicals hidden in a Ryder truck parked outside the FBI dug up the rear axle of that truck which eventually led them to Timothy McVeigh an extreme nationalist angered by the Waco siege two years earlier Downs recovered from her injuries but remained heartbroken over the loss of her friends and overwhelmed with survivor's guilt It was several weeks before she agreed to go to counseling like I'm here because they're making me and I don't want to be here kind of thing," she said "And it was the best thing I could've done." She decided to follow through on some of the promises she made while trapped in the rubble— become a mom "I had joined Weight Watchers so many times that I think I could be banned." She decided to get surgery to reduce the size of her stomach and started riding her bike Downs was asked to volunteer at a memorial race for the victims I'm all emotional and moved because I'm seeing people cross the finish line So I tell everybody I am gonna run next year Downs decided she wanted to do something epic so she signed up for Ironman Arizona—a 2.4-mile swim She hired a trainer and found friends who were competing she watched people bow out with injuries and doubted herself She slogged through the day's events all the way to the last mile of the run "But I could see the lights of the stadium," she said That's when someone in a golf cart approached her She knew officials would disqualify her if she didn't make the cutoff time "'Let's let her hear you make some noise!' And I hear this roar come from this stadium at midnight Amy Downs is the author of the book Hope Is A Verb: My Journey Of Impossible Transformation She's also a mother and the CEO of the credit union she saw destroyed in 1995 and where she hired her best friend Sonja Sanders' daughter to work as a teller and then helped her become an FBI agent Become an NPR sponsor Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S former President Bill Clinton returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing Thirty years after a truck bomb detonated outside a federal building in the nation’s heartland deep scars still remain from the deadliest homegrown attack on U.S Aren Almon greets President Bill Clinton after a prayer service for the victims of the deadly truck bomb attack in Oklahoma City on April 23 The inscription above the entrance to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum reads “We come here to remember those who were killed those who survived and those changed forever May all who leave here know the impact of violence hope and serenity,” in Oklahoma City on March 13 family and friends during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating speaks to guest during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing Guest observe 168 Seconds of Silence for victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing Champlain (Ret) Teddy Wilson reads the Invocation during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing Senior Pastor of First Church Downtown OKC Josue Araujo welcomes guest to his church for the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing A woman gets onto the stage to speak to U.S Senator James Lankford before being escorted away during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing reads the Oklahoma City Memorial Mission Statement and leads guest in 168 Seconds of Silence during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing A woman is escorted away after getting onto the stage to speak to U.S Senator James Lankford during the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing Oklahoma Fire Pipes and Drums start the 30th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the wake of the bombing He says it was a day in his presidency that he will never forget “I still remember as if it were 30 minutes ago coming here with Hillary to that memorial service and saying: ‘You have lost too much and we will be with you for as many tomorrows as it takes,’” Clinton said recalling his first visit to Oklahoma City just days after the bombing when he spoke at a memorial service for the for the victims Clinton also cautioned about the polarizing nature of modern-day politics and how such divisiveness can lead to violence He said there is much the nation can learn from the “Oklahoma Standard,” a term coined to reference the city’s response to the bombing by uniting in service “I wish to goodness every American could just see life unfold here Other speakers included former Oklahoma Gov Frank Keating and former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick who were in office when the bombing occurred Family members of some of those killed in the bombing read the 168 names of those killed in the attack Saturday’s ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but was moved inside an adjacent church because of heavy rains Among the memorial’s top missions is to help people understand the senselessness of political violence and teach a new generation about the impact of the bombing “We knew when we built this place we would some day reach a generation of people who weren’t born or who didn’t remember the story,” Watkins said not just kids are coming through more and more but teachers who are teaching those kids.” own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Southern Queensland provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU View all partners it will be 30 years since the Oklahoma bombing anti-government right-wing extremist Timothy McVeigh parked a Ryder truck loaded with 5,000 pounds of agricultural fertiliser and diesel fuel at the front of the Alfred P McVeigh lit two separate fuses – in case one failed killing 168 people (including 19 children) and injuring close to 700 Today, the bombing remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in United States history when America – and the world – shifted their attention to the threat posed by radical Islamic extremism the bombing is back on the cultural agenda as the right-wing extremism that drove McVeigh is on the rise New and recent chronicles of the Oklahoma bombing are not just a reflection on the past In his award-winning book about the bombing, Homegrown (2023) US lawyer and journalist Jeffrey Toobin writes: In the thirty years since the Oklahoma City bombing the country took an extraordinary journey – from nearly universal horror at the action of a right-wing extremist [McVeigh] to wide embrace of a president who reflected the bomber’s values Toobin draws ominous parallels between his subject’s political motivations and the values and views of the January 6 insurrectionists a Gulf War veteran and gun-rights absolutist always claimed he bombed the Murrah building to protest the “abuses and usurpations” of Bill Clinton’s government He specifically mentioned two infamous armed confrontations between extremists and the federal government. One was the 1992 standoff between FBI agents and white separatists at Ruby Ridge, which resulted in three deaths, including the killing of a 14-year-old boy. A year later, more than 75 people died in Waco, Texas after a shootout and 51-day siege between the FBI and an apocalyptic religious sect McVeigh was also mobilised by Clinton’s 1994 ban of assault weapons which he and other conservatives believed was a violation of the Second Amendment One of his strongest influences – and a constant companion – was The Turner Diaries a 1978 novel sometimes referred to as “the bible of the racist right” a white nationalist destroys a FBI building in Washington with a truck bomb and the US becomes engaged in a nuclear civil war McVeigh read the book during his army training and sold copies at gun shows His embrace of violence as a justified response to political grievances is reflected in the rhetoric of Trump’s presidency, argues Toobin – most famously, Trump’s January 6 speech when he exhorted his supporters to march on Congress and “fight like Hell” All the trends that McVeigh embodied – the political extremism the embrace of violence – came together under the 45th president When choosing a date for the bombing, McVeigh deliberately opted for April 19: the second anniversary of Waco and the date of the Battles of Lexington and Concord which marked the start of the American War of Independence the rioters who stormed the Capitol saw “the rebellion” as akin to the revolutionary struggle of the Founding Fathers believed violence was necessary to achieve their goals McVeigh represents an early prototype of the aggrieved Trump voter The actions of McVeigh and some Trump supporters belong to “a long tradition of gun-obsessed The only difference is, Trump’s extremist ideas have become mainstream A new docudrama, McVeigh is a responsible account of McVeigh’s alienation and hostility and a brooding rumination on the complex interaction of factors that led to his radicalisation director Mike Ott avoids the sensationalism one might expect In McVeigh, the bombing itself is never depicted. Instead, the narrative follows the weeks leading up to the attack, slowly tracking McVeigh’s assemblage of the bomb with his accomplice, Terry Nichols In an early scene, McVeigh (played by Alfie Allen) points a pistol at the television, miming the execution of former US Attorney General Janet Reno as she testifies at the Waco hearing we see McVeigh in his truck on the morning of the bombing waiting patiently for the red light to change McVeigh and Nichols speak in gruff monosyllables their coded communications allowing the pair to hide “in plain sight” This makes their plans difficult to decipher The film has been criticised as a missed opportunity to critically examine the machinery that radicalised McVeigh excruciatingly dull – representation of events is the very point and the descent into violent extremism is marked by moments of mundane horror and aimlessness We can’t pinpoint the exact moment when McVeigh decides to commit to the attack nor do we know how it could have been prevented But propelled by what one former mentor called his “right-wing McVeigh can easily be read as a man who is trying to “make America great again” the slow burn creates an ominous atmosphere as the film drifts toward its inevitable conclusion The film subtly conveys McVeigh’s rage at the government and McVeigh debunks the myth McVeigh was a lone wolf Instead of presenting McVeigh as an eccentric oddity or a freakish outsider the film shows how he found community in both Elohim a small religious community with white supremacist orientations McVeigh shared his plans for the bombing with others McVeigh was connected to the Michigan Militia an armed paramilitary group that advocates for armed defence against federal overreach and perceived incursions on freedom “McVeigh may have thought of himself as a lone wolf”, writes Jason Burke In Homegrown, Toobin too exposes the role of Nichols, who remains in the federal supermax prison in Colorado, serving life without parole. He also exposes Michael Fortier (another army friend of McVeigh’s) and his wife Lori who both knew about the plot but failed to warn authorities Importantly, given the rise of extremist parties and movements, both Homegrown and McVeigh make clear there is no single cause of radicalisation and no single pathway to becoming a violent extremist Toobin even suggests McVeigh became an incel before the term itself existed He argues that in the absence of social media McVeigh used letter writing to share his extremist views and recruit prospective allies McVeigh was unable to attract the sexual interest of women and responded with rage toward them […] his resentments against Blacks (for taking his job opportunities) and women (for denying him companionship) festered and grew McVeigh came of age before the modern internet, but as a teen he was intrigued by its early iteration in the mid-1980s he even broke into a defense department computer using the code name “Wanderer” he was unable to access social media and other digital technologies why he was dismissed as a lone wolf unable to find his “pack” Toobin believes if social media existed in the early 1990s McVeigh would have been able to galvanise the army he yearned for “the internet accounts for the difference between McVeigh’s lonely crusade and the thousands who stormed the Capitol on January 6 McVeigh was executed by lethal injection on June 11 He believed the bombing was a justified response to the “arrogance and oppressive power” of the Clinton government and described the children he killed as “collateral damage” McVeigh requested his ashes be scattered over the Oklahoma City National Memorial on the site where the Murrah building once stood His defence lawyer and longtime friend, Rob Nigh talked him out of the plan: “a kind of sneering double immortality for the bombing itself and for his return to the site for eternity” McVeigh’s remains were released to the winds in the Rocky Mountains The Oklahoma City National Memorial is seen Wednesday A display at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum shows items from the bombed Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on March 12 A photo is displayed on the Memorial Fence at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum on March 12 Aren Almon poses for a portrait at the Oklahoma City National Memorial on Wednesday Aren Almon poses for a portrait next to the memorial chair for her daughter at the Oklahoma City National Memorial on Wednesday Aren Almon wears a button with a photo of her daughter Baylee Almon who was killed in the Oklahoma City federal building bombing whose daughter Baylee became a national symbol in an iconic photo of a firefighter holding her lifeless body following the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City is comforted by her father Tommy Almon and mother Debbie Almon during a funeral service for Baylee at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City Former Oklahoma City firefighter Chris Fields poses for a photo at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in Oklahoma City on March 12 Former Oklahoma City firefighter Chris Fields looks at the Oklahoma City National Memorial in Oklahoma City on March 12 Austin Allen poses for a photo at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in Oklahoma City on March 12 Austin was 4 years old when his father died in the bombing of the Alfred P Austin Allen shows a photo of himself with his deceased father during an interview in Oklahoma City on March 12 Austin Allen touches a memorial for his deceased father in the Field of Empty Chairs section of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum on March 12 the youngest survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing poses for a photo where he works at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City on March 13 Allen plays in his backyard in Oklahoma City on April 17 One of the youngest survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing Allen says he wants more than anything to be able to swim and wrestle with his friends without worrying about the tracheotomy in his throat getting dislodged poses for a photo at the Tinker Air Force Base where he works in Oklahoma City on March 13 Bombing survivor Dennis Purifoy stands during an interview at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in Oklahoma City on March 12 This photo provided by Dennis Purifoy on Wednesday shows Purifoy in 1995 at the Social Security office where he worked in the Alfred P Charles “Chuck” Porter IV receives an award for his picture of a firefighter holding a baby in the aftermath of the Oklahoma bombing in London’s Mansion House from the Lord Mayor of London Alderman John Chalstrey From a mother who lost her first-born baby and a young man so badly injured that he still struggles to breathe three decades have not healed the wounds from the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19 And while the bombing awakened the nation to the dangers of extremist ideologies many who suffered directly in the attack still fear anti-government rhetoric in modern-day politics could also lead to violence A 30-year anniversary remembrance ceremony is scheduled for April 19 on the grounds of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum Little Baylee Almon had just celebrated her first birthday the day before her mother dropped her off at the America’s Kids Daycare inside the Alfred P It was the last time Aren would see her first child alive Aren saw a photo on the front page of the local newspaper of Baylee’s battered and lifeless body cradled in the arms of an Oklahoma City firefighter “I said: ‘That’s Baylee.’ I knew it was her,” Aren Almon said which won the amateur photographer who took it the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography firefighter Chris Shields came to symbolize all the first responders who descended on the bomb site while Baylee represented the innocent victims who were lost that day “I get that (the photo) made its mark on the world,” Almon said “But I also realize that Baylee was a real child The Oklahoma City firefighter in the photograph was Chris Fields who had been on the scene for about an hour when a police officer came “out of nowhere” and handed him Baylee’s lifeless body Fields swept the infant’s airway and checked for any signs of life He said the iconic photograph was snapped as he waited for a paramedic to find room for the baby in a crowded ambulance “I was just looking down at Baylee thinking somebody’s world is getting ready to be turned upside down today,’” Fields recalled While he tries to focus more on being a grandfather than politics Fields said he has little doubt an attack motivated by radical political ideology could happen again One of the youngest survivors of the bombing was PJ Allen who was just 18 months old when his grandmother dropped him off at the second-floor daycare He still bears the scars from his injuries Allen suffered second- and third-degree burns over more than half his body head trauma from falling debris and damage to his vocal chords that still affects the sound of his voice Now an avionics technician at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City Allen said he had to be homeschooled for years and couldn’t go out in the sun because of the damage to his skin there doesn’t seem to be any self pity when he speaks of the impact of the bombing on his life it makes me very appreciative that I wake up every day,” he said “I know some people weren’t as fortunate.” Austin Allen was 4 years old when his father Department of Housing and Urban Development employee Although he remembers snippets of riding in his dad’s truck and eating Cheerios with him in the morning most of his memories come from friends and family little things like that I’ve heard about him over the years that have painted a bigger picture of the man he was,” Allen said acknowledges he’s troubled by the anti-government vein in modern-day politics and wonders where it could lead where you have one side versus the other,” he said “There is a parallel to 1995 and the political unrest.” who was an assistant manager in the Social Security office on the ground floor of the building Another 24 customers who were waiting in the lobby also perished Although he doesn’t remember hearing the explosion a phenomenon he said he shares with other survivors he remembers thinking the computer he was working on had exploded “That’s just one of the weird ways that I found out later our minds work in a situation like that,” he said said the bombing and McVeigh’s anti-government motives were a reality check for an innocent nation something he said he sees in our society today naive about the numbers of people in our country who hold far right-wing views “One thing I say to tell people is ‘conspiracy theories can kill,’ and we saw it here.” Just after 9 a.m. on April 19, 1995, Jason Williamson was on the phone, helping a customer work out the logistics of a complex cash withdrawal. At 24, his stint as a phone teller at the federal employees credit union in downtown Oklahoma City was his first real job since earning his college business degree His desk on the third floor of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building sat to the left of the teller windows serving in-person customers who had come in on a sunny Wednesday morning Williamson briefly noticed the lights flickering before the world suddenly went pitch black and quiet – then he was engulfed by a deafening roar and the feeling that he was in free fall At 9:02 a.m. on that day 30 years ago, a 4,800-pound fertilizer bomb detonated in a Ryder truck parked outside the north entrance of Oklahoma City’s federal building. The blast killed 168 people It destroyed or damaged more than 300 buildings “It remains the worst event ever of domestic terrorism in the U.S.,” said former Oklahoma Gov who was barely a few months into his term at the time But the event upended Americans’ sense of safety lay bare the rage of anti-government sentiment and galvanized a grieving city determined to help survivors and ensure the memories of the lost lived on Three decades later, experts say its long-lasting impacts are complicated: From lessons learned about the power of a unified community to those less grasped about the grievances of growing right-wing extremism − all amid concerns the horrific event is slipping from memory “We thought terrorism would come from outside our country and we couldn’t believe this was a homegrown individual,” said former Oklahoma radio host John Erling whose “Erling in the Morning” aired on Tulsa’s KRMG from 1976 to 2005 “The fact that all these people were killed and that it included babies and children – it was a horrific feeling for all of us.” both of which had turned deadly and inflamed far-right fears about federal intrusion on freedoms around guns and religion a Gulf War veteran who planned the attack and detonated the bomb intentionally triggered the blast two years to the day that the Waco siege ended with the deaths of 75 Branch Davidian members seeing the act as part of a war against government oppression He was executed by lethal injection on June 11 “It shifted the dialogue about who the threat was and what they believed,” said Amy Cooter Militia Movement.” “We did have this image of ourselves as being protected from geopolitical violence He remembered thinking that at least it was quick and he didn’t suffer The bank of teller windows was gone altogether Williamson began to comprehend that much of the building was a gaping hole yawning over a giant crater “What happened?” he finally heard someone scream “That’s what snapped me out of it,” Williamson said Other colleagues began to emerge from the third-floor debris He remembered one of them remarking that a nearby desk belonged to the Army recruiting office on the fourth floor a hallway and the northern set of third-floor offices As Williamson and the others wondered what to do appeared and said the building’s south stairwell offered a way out They made their way down to ground level and eventually around to the side of the blast eyed the ruins and wondered what had become of the rest of his co-workers 'We've lost that innocence'Cooter was a middle schooler in East Tennessee at the time of the bombing but recalled watching news coverage about the event she remembered how the nation’s social fabric suddenly seemed to have been ripped with the attack on America’s heartland As Cooter grew to understand the links between the bombing and the events that came before it she became interested in more fully understanding the anti-government sentiment she had seen firsthand in her rural community She’s now deputy director and co-founder of the Institute for Countering Digital Extremism people talked about driving down the interstate and seeing a moving truck and wondering if there was something harmful inside,” Cooter said “We were worried about each other as potential threats and not seeing each other as neighbors.” More than 40% of Americans after the bombing worried about becoming a victim of terrorism, according to a white paper published in 2021 by the Cato Institute culture and communication at New York University said the bombing was the most visible indication of growing populist forces that would have far-reaching political implications that linger today “The roots of much of the polarization in the U.S “The anger at government overreach really has its roots in that era It was also the first stages of the deindustrialization of the U.S so the sense of people being screwed over and left behind economically were very powerful then.” The incident would also usher in a new era of homegrown violence that would gradually color American life The Oklahoma City bombing would soon be overshadowed by the terrorist attacks of Sept which had followed the massacre at Columbine High School in Columbine “Kids have to live in fear for their lives,” said Erling The people of Oklahoma united in a powerful and therapeutic way to support survivors of the bombing and Intercity rivalries gave way to state pride “There was a big separation between Oklahoma City and Tulsa but the bond between the two became stronger Oklahoma businesses and individuals rose to the occasion “without regard for who got credit for anything,” said Keating A downtown revitalization was accelerated after the bombing as the city tapped groundswells of pride and resilience Among those efforts was the creation of a complex that would not only honor the victims of the blast but seek to unravel the reasons behind it “It was remarkable how soon survivors and others were intensely interested in being part of the project,” said Edward Linenthal author of “The Unfinished Bombing: Oklahoma City in American Memory” and a professor emeritus of history at Indiana University Bloomington “They needed to learn how to work together and to realize the memorial wasn’t really for them − it was for the future.” The resulting memorial and museum – and the civic cooperation that went into their making – are among the bombing’s enduring legacies. So, too, is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, which has grown to become one of the nation’s best-known races since launching in 2001 Meanwhile, nearly 200 children of bombing victims pursued college or vocational education with the help of scholarship fund programs “We were able to take care of everyone who lost one or more parents and wanted to go to college,” Keating said In 1999, a task force appointed by Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick soon after the bombing recommended creation of a monument dedicated to "those who were killed those who survived and those changed forever." Among the site’s most notable features are the Field of Empty Chairs each bearing the name of someone who died; an elm tree that survived the explosion; and a wall bearing the names of those who survived “The way in which they organized as a community to build the memorial and the thoughtfulness that went into that is exemplary,” said Sturken author of several books about American memorialization “There’s plenty of things one could criticize about how the museum ultimately presented the story but the way in which that city came together was really powerful.” Understanding and conveying the broader lessons behind mass violence are a harder lift and where such memorials typically fall short “It’s hard to step back and have a broader discussion about politics,” Sturken said “I will give them credit in Oklahoma City; they created a whole institute about issues of security They were actually thinking more broadly about having something good come of that process.” The National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, however, which included a training center and terrorism database, ultimately closed in 2014 for lack of funding Linenthal, who was a member of the Flight 93 Memorial Commission after 9/11 said the community’s thoughtfulness and cohesion nonetheless provided a blueprint for memorials that would follow “If we are going to memorialize these events and try to combat the toxins of violence through true educational programs and witness testimony Oklahoma City was a model to begin from,” he said But Linenthal believes it’s important not to mischaracterize the attack or its victims “It’s far too easy to try to turn these horrific events into just stories of resilience and courage and bravery,” he said “There’s nothing redemptive about what happened These people did not consciously give their lives for their country They were murdered while they were at work.” Williamson said 18 of his co-workers were murdered that day He left banking to follow the path he really wanted He now teaches online courses as a professor of ancient and modern languages at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee after a stint at the University of Oklahoma walks down long hallways conjured vivid images of massive explosions and thoughts about where the pieces would fall flickering lights – he'd find himself gripping the sides of his desk “It definitely hits me emotionally and unexpectedly at times,” Williamson said “I try not to lose sight of the fact that in so many ways It occurred to him recently that all but one of his co-workers who died that day were younger than he is now Williamson doesn’t plan to return for this year’s ceremonies; milestone numbers are important when the group that gathered was so modest they could all fit around the survivor tree at the site he recalled being kept awake one night by noisy neighbors He found himself driving to the memorial site at 4 a.m It was the first and only time he had ever walked into the Field of Chairs alone "I felt really connected to my 18 co-workers," he said "Like they were symbolically there in the chairs there with me The 30th anniversary of the bombing and the nation’s polarization highlight concerns that memories fade and lessons can be forgotten Erling recalls speaking several years ago to a class of high school freshmen in small-town Oklahoma He asked students to raise their hands if they had never heard of the bombing Linenthal encountered similar experiences as he wound down his college teaching career students would often get this quizzical look on their face,” he said “Many would say they’d heard of it but didn’t know much about it I realized that for some people this was ancient modern history.” Sturken said that rather than urgency about extremism the bombing instead illustrated that such forces were just getting started The villainization of Timothy McVeigh became the narrative rather than serious examination of societal forces prompting his radicalization “There was a lot of focus on him as an individual rather than asking how things in society are making people left behind in a way that’s fueling anger,” she said sustainability and community and urban studies at the University of Connecticut in Storrs government never formally apologized for either Waco or Ruby Ridge “some of the issues raised by these events have not really been addressed.” Messaging about the lingering threat of domestic terrorism has in some respects “been drowned out by everything that’s happened since,” he said There is a need to keep reminding ourselves.” Cooter said one population that hasn’t forgotten about the bombing is militia groups themselves “It’s still very central to their identity and how they navigate their relationship with the government,” she said She worries federal cuts to national security efforts by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency indicate monitoring such concerns are no longer a priority Funding for many national security efforts have been stymied by budget cuts in Washington I would have said the bombing was a key event that spurred us to invest more in understanding domestic terrorism from an academic and law enforcement perspective trying to do more to stop it before it happens,” Cooter said has frankly been undone with the removal of federal funding I’m not sure what that fight is going to look like in the next few years.” Linenthal said the anniversary poses larger questions about what society chooses to remember and what it consciously chooses to forget – an increasingly important concern given DOGE cuts to federal agencies that oversee or fund such historical narratives “It’s heartbreaking in the most profound sense that the federal government is seeing fit to do away with most grant funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities,” he said “That’s the kind of insidious forgetfulness that to me is horrific and almost beyond words.” Erling wonders what McVeigh would think about what's happening today for all the death and destruction it caused the oppressiveness of what’s happening is more so now because a lot of people are waking up and thinking 'When am I going to get my notice?' There's this fear of the government taking their jobs and healthcare away from them That oppressiveness is going on in a greater way." ensures that people will never forget what happened Though the sense of solidarity that united Oklahomans after the bombing has dissipated he doesn't doubt that people would rise to the occasion again if needed "I believe it’s within our hearts and souls," he said "That commonality of kindness still rests in our hearts." Former president spoke at commemoration for the 168 people who died in the 1995 attack by far-right extremist Bill Clinton called on Americans to put aside “whose resentments matter most” and issued a defense of government employees as he returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday for a remembrance service for the 30th anniversary of the deadliest homegrown terrorist attack in US history. “If our lives are going to be dominated by efforts to dominate people we disagree with, we’re going to put the 250-year-old march toward a more perfect union at risk,” he said. “None of us would ever get much done. Believe me, we’ve all got something to be mad about.” In stirring remarks, the 78-year-old former president, who was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the aftermath of the 19 April 1995 bombing in which 168 people died, including 19 children, offered a message of unity. Read moreClinton was just over two years into his first term as president when a truck bomb destroyed a nine-story US government building in the city’s downtown He described how he was out jogging with the winners of the Boston marathon on the morning of the attack when he learned of the damage that had been done at the Alfred P Murrah federal building I thought I was going to have a different day,” he said “Most of the people who lost their lives were public servants “What they did every day was a matter of choice In his address, Clinton hinted at themes that were extremist in 1995 but have now become more established, noting that “in recent years the country has grown more polarized” and bringing the political forewarnings of the Oklahoma bombing into the present “The terrorist who did this awful thing believed that it would spark a nationwide upheaval against the American government,” he said “and would eventually destroy our government and democracy “A lot of times a fanatic will tell you: ‘Sorry there had to be collateral damage sometimes to make a statement,’” he said “But I’ve never heard anybody say that who had to live with the damage.” Clinton said Oklahoma City had offered the country an example of how to manage the response to tragedy. He referred to the “Oklahoma standard” the resilient attitude described by news media and first responders to the tragedy which was later embraced by the state and defined as “a statewide initiative preserving and promoting a culture of caring citizens by encouraging acts of service But in the end it brought out the best in America,” Clinton told remembrance service attendees and urged them to spread the same message to other Americans in the current turbulent political moment “We can still find a way to move forward together with the Oklahoma standard,” he said He also joked that he felt more able to be candid now “I’m old and can’t run for anything any more,” Clinton said There are very few situations in basketball where Nikola Jokic is uncomfortable But the center of the yearly debate over who the Most Valuable Player in the league is one of them His face visibly contorts when the three letters are even uttered near him He deflects questions about the award as quickly as he redirects one of his quick touch passes on the court Six of the past seven seasons Jokic has been in the top five of the MVP race But this year he has done something completely unexpected He actually made a case for himself to win the award Nowhere did he say that it would mean a lot to him personally What Jokic outlined was simple: He has never played as well as he did this year and if we agree on that premise -- that he has been even better this season than his three MVP campaigns -- then logically Besides averaging a triple-double and leading the league with 33 of them this season Jokic ranked among the top three in scoring (29.6) and was among the top 20 players in 3-point percentage (41.7%) But there's one very big difference this year than in the previous three years a hole in what is otherwise an open-and-shut case Gilgeous-Alexander had a season for the ages, too, leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and playing All-NBA-caliber defense while guiding the youngest team in the league to 68 wins by the largest average margin of victory (plus-12.9 PPG) in NBA history, surpassing the record set by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers It is your classic best-player-on-the-best-team versus best-statistical-season MVP race The only time the debate seemed to take center stage or grow even the least bit heated came when the Nuggets and Thunder split back-to-back games March 9 and 10 Gilgeous-Alexander made his case with 40 points 8 assists and 3 steals in the nationally televised March 9 win I love all the accolades that come with it Jokic made his case the next night with 35 points 18 rebounds and 8 assists as the Nuggets won the far less publicized game every TV and radio show debated who should win; teammates on both sides campaigned for their guy; and voters were left with a month to sort through everything before casting their votes both men have gone out of their way to compliment the other for a hell of a season But whatever debate there was has given way to the playoff drama about to transpire This second-round matchup between the Thunder and the Nuggets will bring all of it back into focus starting with Game 1 in Oklahoma City on Monday night The MVP is expected to be announced during a live TNT broadcast during this round of the playoffs This means Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic (and Giannis Antetokounmpo too) will be asked to join a livestream and await the announcement of the most important individual award in basketball at a time when their entire focus has shifted to team success "It is the last thing on both of our minds," Jokic said Saturday night after the Nuggets finished off the LA Clippers in Game 7 of their hard-fought first-round series The votes have long since been cast. And winning the MVP hasn't correlated with winning an NBA title since Stephen Curry did it in 2015 none of the previous nine MVP winners has made it past the conference finals But when asked about Gilgeous-Alexander as a player "He's a very different player," Jokic said that's a good defense.' It feels so easy for him and he's amazing with a change of speed his shooting at the midrange is unguardable basically Gilgeous-Alexander has taken a different approach in how he has handled the attention that comes with an MVP race He has acknowledged how much it would mean to him he reiterates that the only goal that really matters to him is the Thunder winning Which has left the job of campaigning to surrogates. Former Denver coach Michael Malone had historically been Jokic's hype man. But after he was unceremoniously fired with just three games left in the season, Nuggets swingman Christian Braun took over From the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals ESPN has you covered throughout the playoffs "I think that Nikola had maybe the greatest season ever," Braun said Saturday night "I don't know if you'll ever see a player do what he did ever again in one singular regular season But to see what Nikola did night in and night out I don't know that you'll ever see that again." In December, Thunder center Chet Holmgren tweeted simply "Lu Dort for DPOY and Shai for MVP or we riot." It is an intriguing subplot to this series that both of the front men will do their best to ignore Asked whether he thought Jokic cared whether he wins "I know Shai a lot better than I know Jokic," Daigneault said Sunday afternoon "But I think I know enough to know that neither one of them are going to get distracted by that Both of them are going to be fully invested in the series 8 teams remain in the hunt for the NBA title as the conference semifinals tip off Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers have jumped out to an 1-0 lead over the No Entering the first round of the playoffs Cleveland Cavaliers or Oklahoma City Thunder lost their series suffering just one first-round loss between them while registering a cumulative point differential of 20.3 points per game The other five series were seemingly up for grabs while five of the six games between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons were within five points in the last five minutes But the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves advanced with relative ease using balanced attacks against superstar opponents So, despite Cleveland’s loss in Game 1 vs Celtics and Cavs at the top of the power rankings as we begin the conference semifinals It would again be a pretty big upset if any of the three don’t advance to the final four The 16 teams have averaged 112.7 points scored per 100 possessions and 94.7 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes in the playoffs down from 113.7 and 99.6 (for all 30 teams) in the regular season NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via threads OffRtg: 117.4 (4) DefRtg: 97.6 (1) NetRtg: +19.8 (2) Pace: 102.6 (1) The Thunder had the best regular-season point differential in NBA history, and won Game 1 by 51 They had the best record (18-10) after trailing by double-digits for any team in the 29 seasons for which we have play-by-play data and they came back from 29 down to win Game 3 They’ve been both dominant and resilient OffRtg: 117.4 (3) DefRtg: 103.8 (2) NetRtg: +13.7 (3) Pace: 90.4 (15) The Celtics had a brief stumble in the first round, losing an ugly Game 3 in Orlando But they’re in the conference semifinals for the seventh time in the last eight postseasons and they’re facing a team they’ve dominated over the last two so we can expect Holiday to make his return and spend some time defending both of the Knicks’ stars OffRtg: 131.1 (1) DefRtg: 106.8 (3) NetRtg: +24.3 (1) Pace: 94.1 (7) the Cavs fell into an early hole against the Pacers and couldn’t complete a comeback from a double-digit deficit in Game 1 of the conference semifinals It was noted in this space two weeks ago that the common theme from when they’ve lost is hot 3-point shooting from their opponents and Indiana was 19-for-36 (53%) from beyond the arc on Sunday The Cavs set 16 ball-screens with the guy that Tyrese Haliburton was guarding in Game 1 but didn’t score very efficiently (0.79 points per chance) with that action but Mitchell might be more aggressive in attacking his counterpart instead of pulling up from deep OffRtg: 116.7 (5) DefRtg: 109.1 (4) NetRtg: +7.6 (4) Pace: 92.0 (13) For the first time in franchise history, the Wolves have won a playoff series in consecutive postseasons. Few people picked them to beat the Lakers but it wasn’t much of an upset given that the Wolves were the much better team in the regular season OffRtg: 118.7 (2) DefRtg: 111.2 (7) NetRtg: +7.5 (5) Pace: 97.8 (5) The Pacers handled their business against the Bucks with an efficient and balanced offense in the first round, and then surprised the Cavs in Game 1 on Sunday They lost Game 1 in all three of their 2024 playoff series The Pacers can’t expect to shoot 53% from 3-point range again in Game 2 on Tuesday They’ll also need to be better on the glass going forward OffRtg: 111.7 (8) DefRtg: 111.5 (8) NetRtg: +0.2 (8) Pace: 93.2 (8) The Warriors missed an opportunity to close out the Rockets in Game 6 at home but survived Game 7 in Houston thanks to a huge performance (33 points on 12-for-15 shooting) from Buddy Hield They’ve now reached the conference semifinals in eight of their 11 seasons under coach Steve Kerr The Warriors were the worst rebounding team in the first round, and their next opponent (Minnesota) led the first round in offensive rebounding percentage 1 concern when the conference semifinals begin on Tuesday OffRtg: 115.3 (7) DefRtg: 115.9 (11) NetRtg: -0.6 (11) Pace: 92.1 (11) Instead of blowing a 20-point lead in Game 7 at home (like they did in the 2024 West semis) blowing the Clippers out to reach the conference semifinals for the sixth time in the last seven postseasons David Adelman is now the only coach in NBA history with more playoff wins (four) than regular-season wins (three) The Nuggets were one of only five teams with a regular-season win in Oklahoma City, where they’ll begin the conference semis on Monday night. Jamal Murray scored 34 points in that March 10 victory with 31 of those 34 points coming against Thunder players other than Lu Dort 1 priority for the Denver offense in the next two weeks OffRtg: 109.8 (11) DefRtg: 109.4 (5) NetRtg: +0.4 (7) Pace: 97.9 (3) Brunson and Towns will need to be lights out on offense Perhaps that means putting Towns in the post against smaller defenders on Monday The first round is finished and these 10 things stand out most from the teams Kenny & others reveal their picks for the conference semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs Take a look at every Gone Fishin’ segment on Inside the NBA from the 2025 NBA playoffs The Oklahoma City Thunder is amping up the playoff energy with the release of their official Game One T-shirt for the Western Conference Semifinals The team revealed the bold new design ahead of Monday night's matchup which will be placed on every seat in the arena retro-styled yellow and orange lettering that spells out “OKC” with “Thunder” stamped across the middle in orange The bottom of the design includes the Thunder logo and the phrase “PLAYOFFS25,” marking the team’s 2025 postseason run The Thunder continues its tradition of hyping up fans with exclusive T-shirts for each home playoff game turning the crowd into a coordinated wave of support Monday's game marks the team's first appearance in the Western Conference Semifinals since 2016 and fans are expected to bring high energy as OKC awaits its opponent Fans who can’t make it to the game can still get in on the action by following @OKCThunder on social media for behind-the-scenes looks and merch updates Tip-off for Game One is scheduled for 8:30 p.m Monday at the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder were favored to make the NBA Finals and nothing has changed on that front Both teams cruised through the first round and are the clear favorites to get to the Finals Ahead of Monday’s series opener between the Thunder and Denver Nuggets the Thunder are the betting favorite to win the franchise’s first NBA championship The Thunder are +135 to win it all and a commanding -220 to make it to the Finals partially buoyed by Cleveland’s Game 1 home loss to Indiana on Sunday are -155 to win the Eastern Conference and +195 to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy Cleveland was tighter to those top favorites entering the playoffs The Cavs blew away Miami in a four-game sweep in the first round but Sunday’s loss without Darius Garland put some doubt into Cleveland’s status He has been out since getting hurt in Game 2 against Miami on April 23 the Cavs are still favored (-210) to get past the Pacers the other five teams are all long shots to win the title pulled off an upset by taking out the Los Angeles Lakers in just five games Minnesota gets home-court in Round 2 after the Golden State Warriors knocked out Houston in Game 7 on Sunday The Warriors have been playing better and received more love in futures odds since the Jimmy Butler trade The Timberwolves are -180 to win that series while Golden State is +150 even if neither team is viewed as a primary contender to win it all The Pacers and Nuggets are next at +3500 to win the title Denver got by the LA Clippers in the first round and confidence in the Nuggets is not as high after Mike Malone’s firing on April 8 showed upheaval in the organization Even with Nikola Jokić leading the way and championship-winning experience for this core New York Knicks fans are surely excited to see their team win a playoff series for the third year in a row but the Knicks are the longest of long shots ahead of their series against the Celtics The series against Detroit in the first round was tough the Knicks have made the second round for three years in a row which hasn’t happened since the Patrick Ewing-era Knicks did that for nine straight years from 1992-2000 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite at +140 Jayson Tatum is next at +260 with Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell at +800 There’s nothing complicated or surprising about this list SGA could win the NBA MVP and is clearly the best player on the team that is currently favored to win the title there’s at least a chance Jaylen Brown could get hot and win Finals MVP these odds mostly mimic their teams’ title odds Betting links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic (Photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Justin Ford / Getty Images) Though one answer seems likeliest, it's not fully clear to whom he is referring. The obvious answer is James Harden with whom Westbrook played on three separate teams and he supplanted Westbrook as the team's starting point guard Westbrook also could have been referring to Kris Dunn whom the Clippers traded Westbrook for last summer The Nuggets frequently played help defense off of Dunn because they didn't fear his 3-point shooting as the Clippers frequently picked Westbrook as the Nugget they wouldn't guard from deep Westbrook punished them by shooting 42% from 3-point range in the series because the truth of the last several years is that Westbrook would have understandable gripes with far more than three people The second half of his Hall of Fame career has been the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double that's all he would have been remembered for But legacies for non-champions tend be cruel will surely be reminded of that in the wake of his awful Game 7 Westbrook's struggles to adapt to a new team have defined his entire post-Thunder career seemed destined to taint an otherwise historic legacy If Harden's career could be distilled so cruelly into a handful of horrible elimination games what hope did Westbrook have of escaping the very ugly especially since he held his fair share of blame for it He spent years pushing back against necessary changes to his game He could always summon great defense for big plays or in the right matchups but his effort on a possession-by-possession basis left something to be desired He's always turned the ball over too much and taken too many mid-range jumpers He didn't embrace the corner 3 until he became a Clipper and he didn't start making it consistently until this season and that goes a long way towards describing his failure with those other teams He never got comfortable with that as a shooter or as basically anything else Whether the adjustments he made were due to the brilliance of Nikola Jokić pressure accumulated from years of disappointment elsewhere Westbrook made the subtle tweaks needed to thrive as a role player He scored 126 points as a cutter this season the first time he'd crossed triple-digits since 2012 despite playing the second-fewest minutes of his career in a non-injury He posted the second-highest offensive rebounding rate of his post-Thunder career he started to become the off-ball player his teams needed him to be But the Nuggets badly needed an injection of chaos Their bench has been a mess throughout the Jokić era in part because no backup can replicate his unique playing style but he sidesteps the need to by bringing his own identity to the floor that often means turnovers and sloppy offense but the Nuggets deftly realized that they were losing games on the bench anyway but the high-variance way in which he plays would win them just as many He even acknowledged that himself after Game 7 "I think it's my ability to be a force of nature on the floor even if it could take the Nuggets down bad paths as easily as it could good ones but Denver finally found the right balance between the player Westbrook had always been and the one everyone wanted him to become Westbrook had his share of shaky moments throughout the series The Nuggets would not have beaten the Clippers without him If you need proof of that, look no further than another one of his ex-teams, the Lakers, who just lost a playoff series in which JJ Redick used the same five-man lineup for the entire second half of one game Denver has spent the past several years coming close to doing the same You can't win in the postseason with five players Westbrook's foibles were untenable on a max contract The rewards outweigh the risks for a minimum and he's probably never making more than that again He's at a different stage of his career now He's seen how badly things can go on the the wrong team Westbrook's series and season with the Nuggets should round out the story of this portion of his career He'll never quite untangle the bad moments from the good ones there just hadn't been nearly enough good ones to preserve his post-prime reputation the enduring memory of an all-time great would have been how sadly it all ended He certainly knows what the Clippers thought of him because he said as much after the game their feelings matched the greater consensus This Nuggets stint is therefore serving as an important reminder of what he can be when things go right he's inconsistent and he has meaningful weaknesses but he was always far more than these last few years suggested he's had a chance to remind the basketball world of that It'll be a matchup of NBA MVP frontrunners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic It'll be a playoff homecoming for Russell Westbrook What will be the four biggest keys for the Thunder to dispatch the Nuggets and advance to the Western Conference finals CARLSON: Russell Westbrook Experience returns to OKC for Thunder-Nuggets in NBA Playoffs: Buckle up we've heard for years that the Thunder is too young to win a title but this is an instance where Oklahoma City needs to lean into its youth The Nuggets are the 10th-oldest team in the league and they're only going to have one off day before starting this series then they're going to have to play every other day for at least the first week Add the fact that the Nuggets' depth is more kiddie pool than Pacific Ocean and the well-rested Thunder needs to go hard at the Nuggets More: NBA playoff predictions: Are Boston Celtics, OKC Thunder still favorites after Round 1? Make Denver pay for slim rotationDenver’s rotation has long been thin Less than a handful of teams slimmed down their playoff rotations to seven players — or fewer much to center Jaxson Hayes’ chagrin; the Pistons missed Isaiah Stewart; the Knicks are led by Tom Thibodeaux; and the Nuggets If not for Russell Westbrook’s furious first round Denver could truly be looking at a rotational six The only thing more uncommon than the Nuggets’ minimized rotation is the Thunder’s ability to play up to 10 or more different players confidently in a playoff game ends up being Denver’s weakest link — the target in OKC’s sights — then the Thunder’s weakest link has to outplay them More: OKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets: Who has the edge in NBA Playoffs? Denver ranked first in the NBA in fastbreak points per game (20.1) during the regular season who often pushes the ball up the floor after snagging a rebound but guys such as Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook can also run but it has looked sharp in that department all season The Thunder ranked first in the NBA in fewest opponent fastbreak points per game during the regular season (12.3) and it slowed down the Memphis Grizzlies’ high-octane offense in the first round CARLSON: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to be one of the greats and one of the guys Time for Isaiah Hartenstein to earn his money but the Thunder signed the $30 million man for matchups like this one but it helps to have the requisite size to make him work Denver ranked second in rebound percentage in the regular season The Thunder was 19th after ranking 28th a year ago The addition of Hartenstein has shored up some of OKC's rebounding issues He'll be a massive piece for the Thunder this series It’s long felt like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic’s paths would wind toward this cut scene One of their names being yanked from an envelope, read off of a card to the tune of dramatic silence, declared the NBA’s MVP The other not only forced to watch and endure but to game plan and awkwardly cross paths with their counterpart the following night It would take Oklahoma City and Denver’s series to push past four games Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic have made it so Gilgeous-Alexander with his ability to shift from manual to automatic with the ball in his hands for a mid-range jumper that’s been closer to a guarantee than a hope with eyes seemingly bulging from the back of his buzzcut With improbable touch — he floats shots like he’s petting a poodle — and a propensity for effortless triple-doubles “His play speaks for itself,” coach Mark Daigneault said of Jokic on Sunday afternoon “He's an incredibly tough cover because of the way that he can activate his teammates and also score very efficiently himself.” The big fella’s squad is the last Western Conference team to hold the crown. The last proven West commodity, with last year’s representative, the Dallas Mavericks That’s only grown since, as was shamelessly pointed out to Denver interim coach David Adelman this past week “I had a really good friend the other day make me feel awful,” Adelman said jokingly after Saturday night’s Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Clippers if we win this series we’ve gotta play a team that’s 68-14.’ He said Roughly 48 hours after the Nuggets kicked the Clippers to the curb they’ll play visitor to a beast that’s played the kind of season worth laughing over Denver saw a week of intense late-game situations a miracle of an alley-oopsy that Aaron Gordon slammed to win Game 4 and a proud drubbing of the Clippers in Game 7 The prize: a late date with Gilgeous-Alexander and his 10-deep demons But the two stars pushed their teams down this path Made it so that these two entities — the old guard and the squad unproven in the postseason — were bound to collide Jokic’s teammates orbit around him like planets around the sun; the big man’s devastation has creeped near planetary levels anyway the terror that comes with the image of him sizing up a defender 1-on-1 Jokic has lifted a team that shed several of its decision-makers just days before season’s end For the better part of these past two postseasons “Jokic is in that tier of players, along with Shai and a handful of other guys in the league, where they’re just going to kind of get their numbers,” Thunder veteran Alex Caruso said “If you do a great job on guys of that caliber So I think the biggest thing is just making it tough on them.”  the Thunder will likely try with center Jaylin Williams putting him in a range of positions and actions to act as the passer Jokic is is run through the sets Denver likes and play from the spots Jokic frequents Denver doesn’t employ a player who plays with the stick shift that SGA does With Denver going seven deep and the Thunder playing a full 10 at times in the first round Jokic’s abilities as a ceiling raiser will be tested He’s transcended beyond needing to prove his mettle but the scope under which his Nuggets will be watched will see eyes fixate on the positions he puts his teammates in Whether Russell Westbrook can remain impactful in his connection with the big fella Whether his tandem with Aaron Gordon can punch through the Thunder’s double-big lineup Nearly every open 3 that comes while he’s on the floor will be tied back to Jokic Should SGA’s efficiency resemble what it’s been much of this season Denver — though lacking personnel to do so compared to the Clippers — will likely try to turn others into playmakers To see how far centers Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein have really come in their pairing To see if Jalen Williams is ready for the big show Gilgeous-Alexander likely didn’t spend the week throwing darts at a board fading away while aiming for a cutout of Jokic’s face Jokic was too busy with the Clippers to think about the Canadian “I know Shai a lot better than I know Jokic but I think I know enough about him to know neither one of them are going to get distracted by that But amid all the mentions of Denver’s championship experience Gilgeous-Alexander had to know all along to fully implement the idea that he and his team have arrived he’d need to go through Jokic’s plump chest It’s rest versus resilience as the top-seeded Thunder return to the court after a nine-day layoff while the defending champion Nuggets come off a grueling seven-game war with the Clippers This second-round matchup tips Monday in OKC and it's a clash of two MVP finalists: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić This will be the first time since 2017 we have seen the more than likely two top vote getters play in a series That year was Westbrook and James Harden playing in the first round Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points and 6.5 assists per game against Denver during the regular season he closed out the Memphis series with a commanding 38-point performance on 54% shooting and 10.1 assists in Denver’s first-round win over the Clippers He also delivered two triple-doubles against the Thunder this season including a dominant 35-point night on 15-of-20 shooting in their March matchup flexing their top-ranked defense and relentless transition game exposing their biggest flaw: life without Jokić OKC's bench played a big role in the Memphis series and Denver's bench is not nearly as deep Denver's starters as some of the best in the league Jamal Murray has consistently elevated his game in the postseason averaging 24 points across 72 career playoff appearances That trend continued this season with a 34-point outing against Oklahoma City further proving his ability to lock in and take over during a series averaging 20 points per game and shooting a blistering 44.1% from three against the Thunder Russell Westbrook returns to face the franchise he once carried His spark helped turn Game 7 against the Clippers and he’ll be tasked with disrupting OKC’s rhythm DaRon Out Injury/Illness - Right Achilles Tendon; Repair Nikola Out Injury/Illness - Left Knee; Surgery and eight assists as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder One night after a 24-point loss in the same arena helping Denver rebound from Sunday’s 127–103 defeat the NBA’s leading scorer and a top MVP candidate alongside Jokic finished with 25 points for Oklahoma City a drop-off after scoring 40 the night before Lu Dort added a season-high 26 points and knocked down eight 3-pointers The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for the Thunder who still hold the top spot in the West and are battling Cleveland for the league’s best record with both teams splitting games on their home floor Western Conference Semi-Finals – Thunder vs The Thunder are listed as 9.5-point favorites via FanDuel The Thunder are listed as 9.5-point favorites via FanDuel Oklahoma City is facing a pressing housing crisis with an urgent need for an additional 45,000 housing units to meet current demands it is crucial to embrace practical housing solutions separate living spaces — often referred to as garage apartments or “granny flats” — are a creative use of land and a necessary response to our city’s growing need for affordable housing which have prohibited the construction of ADUs without a special exception since 2009 hinder homeowners from building or upgrading these essential units the Oklahoma City Council is evaluating a draft ordinance that would allow ADUs in specific urban areas promoting affordable housing options near the city center This ordinance includes clear design standards to maintain predictability and to make sure ADUs complement the neighborhood character The proposed changes aim to eliminate the cumbersome and costly processes currently required for homeowners to obtain approval for an ADU which can reach upward of $10,000 and take at least 120 days By streamlining regulations and reducing financial burdens the ordinance gives homeowners the flexibility to create a living arrangement for aging parents as well as generate supplemental rental income to alleviate the financial strain of homeownership More: OKC's affordable housing plan aims to 'fill the gaps,' reduce homelessness The proposed ordinance follows best practices and would allow homeowners to achieve all the benefits of an ADU except for one section: Due to concerns about a perceived increase in on-street parking the proposed ordinance includes a parking requirement studies show that ADUs contribute minimally to off-street parking demand many people who would live in ADUs are either unable to drive or choose not to Experts consider parking requirements a poison pill because they add unnecessary costs and create additional bureaucratic hurdles Norman and Tulsa already have embraced ADU policies allowing homeowners greater flexibility to create more housing options The benefits of increasing the housing supply clearly outweigh the risks With over 77,000 cost-burdened households in Oklahoma City many residents are struggling to afford suitable living conditions The rising cost of homes — averaging about $295,000 — and increasing rent prices More: OKC lacks smaller, affordable housing. Ordinance for added dwelling could be one solution ADUs represent an effective way to provide housing for individuals and small families while supporting the city’s urban density goals schools and public transit can foster vibrant It is time for our city council to remove the parking requirement and vote “yes” on this ordinance Let’s take this significant step toward a brighter more affordable future for all Oklahoma City residents Vanessa Johnson is president of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of Realtors (OKCMAR) Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Oklahoma City's Scissortail Park on May 4 demanding immigration and workforce reform through an event called "Marcha hasta que nos escuchen," Spanish for "March until they hear us." The event was one of many May Day 2025 protests across the country held over the past week against the Trump administration and its policies More than 1,000 demonstrations and rallies were scheduled in every state — most of them on May 1 historically known as May Day or International Workers' Day "Show me what democracy looks like," an Oklahoma City protest organizer shouted in a megaphone "This is what democracy looks like," protesters chanted back National protest organizers told USA TODAY the events were centered on opposition to President Donald Trump and his supporters who has led the Department of Government Efficiency's slashing of the federal workforce Musk and their supporters were attempting to "erase labor rights Protesters in Oklahoma City marched over the bridge from the southernmost part of Scissortail Park to the stage on "the northside," which represented a "symbolic march that represents many of our journeys," according to an Instagram invitation for the event “We really just organized to come together to fight back against the hateful rhetoric that we’ve been seeing in the last 100 days,” said Fernando Baquera Ochoa the lead organizer of the local event and cofounder of the Community Response Network “We’re obviously not advocating for criminals but we’re advocating for families with values similar to American citizens We’re not going to bow down to a rhetoric of hatred and racism.” Community Response Network and League of United Latin American Citizens' Oklahoma chapter several organizations came together to make the event possible the reason we decided to create this protest .. is because we saw a lot of movements across the country that focused on immigrant rights and what is happening right now with the immigrant community is very cruel," said Nicole Maldonado president of LULAC's Oklahoma City chapter Maldonado said over 400 people signed up for the protest and she hoped the event would make the community stronger "People have to come together and be disruptive in a peaceful way Protesters marched with anti-Trump signs reading Anti-Trump" and "This all ends when enough of us say no." a 34-year-old mother who attended the protest with her two children and her husband said she wanted to support the her community "I'm an immigrant. I have DACA," she said. "I'm a mixed family ... a mix of citizens and a mix of Dreamers." Hernandez said the immigration crackdowns felt like abuse "It's just like being in an abusive relationship but a mentally abusive relationship where you're working you're doing everything you can to be a member of society you just hear all this negativity," she said each held the end of a Canadian flag and marched with it throughout the protest They both expressed frustration over immigration policies Arturo Alonso-Sandoval (D-Oklahoma City) and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) Also presenting on the stage were: American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma Executive Director Tamya Cox-Touré; Lesly Fraire LULAC member and vice president of the Hispanic Student Association; Community Response Network member Bre Almaguer; and Destiny Villalobos Immigrant Connexión Empowerment's Youth Empowerment Initiative leader Some speakers focused on issues under attack other than immigration such as women's health and workers' rights including Women's March Executive Director Rachel O'Leary Carmona such as Starbucks Workers United Oklahoma City member Collin Pollitt who spoke about the union's fight against corporate leadership and Central Oklahoma Labor Federation President Tim O'Connor "Everybody knows the situation that we're in," O'Connor said But I'd like to leave you with this message: There will be days when things feel stacked against you Contributing: USA TODAY Network reporters Christopher Cann (This story was updated to add new information and because a previous version had inaccuracies.)