The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and the Oklahoma City Thunder come into the postseason as dangerous underdogs facing the Portland Trailblazers.

In order to pull off the upset, the Thunder offense, which has struggled to find its rhythm this season, will need to find a balance that allows both Russell Westbrook and Paul George to showcase their respective skills in tandem during the series.

On the other side of the ball, the Thunder must continue playing hard-nosed defense. Should they get past the first round, the Thunder could be poised for a deep playoff run. Thunder up!

– Andrew Aston, Jones PR

It’s a good time to be a college sports fan in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners men’s and women’s gymnastics teams are both ranked #1 in the nation. The men’s team is in the midst of a historic streak, while the women’s team is seeking to recapture the national title after last year’s razor-thin loss in the final round.

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s golf team is looking to defend its national championship, while the Sooner softball team is chasing its fourth title since 2013.

Regardless of your team’s colors, let’s appreciate the continued excellence of Oklahoma’s college athletes.

– Andrew Aston, Jones PR

Kyler Murray announced he will pursue an NFL career, forgoing baseball. The 2018 Heisman winner has the potential to become the first athlete drafted in the first round of the NFL and MLB drafts.

Mariah Lopez, pitcher for the third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners softball team, picked up the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week award on opening weekend of the season, recording two shutouts.

Russell Westbrook made history against the Portland Trail Blazers with a 10th consecutive triple-double, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 1968 record. Meanwhile, Paul George is putting together an MVP-caliber season, averaging 28.7 points per game.

– Andrew Aston, Jones PR

Jalen Hurts is headed to Oklahoma. The former Alabama quarterback will be eligible to start for the Sooners in 2019 as a graduate transfer. Hurts was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a true freshman in 2016 and will compete against top recruit Spencer Rattler for the starting job in Norman this fall.

The OKC Thunder look to cool down the red-hot Milwaukee Bucks Jan. 27 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, and Russell Westbrook is on pace for his third-straight season averaging a triple-double.

– Andrew Aston, Jones PR

Bust out the face paint and fire up the grill, the 2017 college football season is almost here — finally.

Tulsa and Oklahoma State will meet in a state showdown for their 6:30 p.m. season-opener Thursday, Aug. 31 in Stillwater.

The reigning Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners, now under head coach Lincoln Riley, will take on UTEP at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 at home.

According to the AP Poll, the road to the Big 12 championship will run through Oklahoma with the Cowboys ranked No. 10 and the Sooners ranked No. 7 in the nation.

– Holly Hoehner, Jones PR

Do you have what it takes to qualify for the U.S. Open? There are 16 exemptions for entry into the U.S. Open. In 2017, exempt players (77) comprised over half of the field.

Out of 8,979 golfers who participated in Local Qualifiers, 525 advanced to SectionalQualifiers where they were met by international competitors and professionals who were exempt from local qualifiers. Out of the Sectional Qualifiers, 73 golfers earned a trip to Erin, Wisconsin, to compete.

That brings the total field to 156 golfers, three of whom are native Oklahomans and five more who attend college here.

— Adam Maxey, Jones PR

The Tulsa Drillers will host the Midland RockHounds at ONEOK Field in their home opener today, April 13, through Saturday, April 15. Last week, the Drillers began their season on the road in Midland, Texas, also against the RockHounds.

The Drillers will play at home on Monday, April 17, through Wednesday, April 19, against the Frisco Rednecks and again at home April 24-May 1.

Friday home games are always a treat with a fireworks display, sponsored by News on 6.

The Tulsa Drillers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Come out and support the Drillers!

– Connie Pearson, Jones PR

Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s 55-year-old record with his 42nd triple-double this season during the April 9 game against the Denver Nuggets. Westbrook and the Thunder proved successful with a buzzer-beating three-pointer for a 106-105 victory eliminating the Nuggets from playoff contention.

Westbrook’s record-breaking assist came with 4:17 remaining after a series of missed shots. “I know y’all are probably gonna get tired of me saying the same thing, but I promise you I’ve been blessed with so many things,” Westbrook said. “This is another blessing. I never take it for granted.”

– Jake Pasdach, Jones PR

Sometimes our careers aren’t what we planned. That’s especially true for Kelli Masters – champion baton twirler, former Miss Oklahoma and now one of the few female sports agents.

Her story began when a former Sooners quarterback contacted Masters, an attorney, with legal questions. Soon, she began to receive more and more legal inquiries from other former football players. As she worked, she discovered that athletes often keep bad company, many of whom are motivated by an athlete’s big paycheck. That sparked Masters’ career change.

Today, Masters is an inspiration to other women who are setting sights on male-dominated industries.

– Emily Long, Jones PR

It’s a good time to be a college football fan in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oklahoma Sooners and Tulsa Golden Hurricane all routed their post-season bowl opponents and have bright futures ahead.

The Sooners and Cowboys are both considered to be among the top teams in the Big XII next season and the Golden Hurricane will be coming off their first double-digit win season since 2012.

While football will be going on a brief hiatus for the upcoming spring and summer, Oklahomans can spend the next few months anticipating even more success in Oklahoma football next season.

– Adam Maxey, Jones PR

The 2016 US Olympic Trials recently came to an end, resulting in huge wins for four OU Sooners.

USA Gymnastics recently announced Mark Williams, current OU men’s gymnastics head coach, was selected as the 2016 US Olympic Men’s Gymnastics head coach. Mark Williams has served as head coach for OU men’s gymnastics team for 17 years and has led the team to their 10th national title and second consecutive perfect season.

In addition, Chris Brooks, Jake Dalton and Alex Naddour, all former OU gymnasts, qualified to be three of the five final members to represent team USA in men’s gymnastics.

– Jake Pasdach, Jones PR

It’s finally baseball season! Check out the following next time you’re cheering on the Dodgers in Bricktown Ballpark.

• Food: Try some unique offerings such as the Porker dog from Franx, a hot dog topped with barbecue sauce, pulled pork and coleslaw; the meatball pizza from Pi Pizzeria; an authentic Cuban sandwich from Metro Deli or the new red berry Dippin’ Dots.

• $2 Thursdays: Sodas, waters and select beers are available for $2.

• Friday Fireworks: Immediately following Friday games!

• Local Spirit: be sure to brush up on the song “Oklahoma” as it will be proudly sung during the seventh-inning stretch!

– Alex Mercurio, Jones PR