PREVIEW: The Golden State Warriors will host the Oklahoma City Thunder at 10 p.m. ET in what could be a first-round preview, given that Oklahoma City currently holds the West's first seed and Golden State the eighth seed. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green will all sit out for the Warriors , creating a dramatically different landscape for this matchup. The Warriors are hot, having won five of their last six games , but they'll face significant lineup disruptions against one of the league's most dominant defensive units. Oklahoma City has gotten back to its traditional ways, blowing out the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, and Portland Trail Blazers in rapid succession , establishing itself as a team firing on all cylinders heading into this clash. The Thunder excel at forcing turnovers and rank first in the league at converting those miscues into points, while also ranking first in allowing low-quality three-point attempts on defense. The Warriors, conversely, rank first in three-point attempt frequency at 49.8 percent of their offense , but without their superstar playmakers, generating open looks will prove challenging. Oklahoma City's defense ranks second in preventing shots near the rim while forcing opponents into inefficient attempts , putting considerable pressure on a shorthanded Golden State squad. Oklahoma City is a 13.5-point favorite , reflecting the reality that the Thunder's elite two-way versatility should overwhelm a Warriors team missing its core stars.