Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive season, becoming the first team in the NBA to do so this year, following a 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Thunder currently hold a record of 54-15, solidifying their position as a dominant force in the Western Conference.
The team’s success is largely attributed to the exceptional performance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 40 points in Tuesday’s game and is considered by many to be the best player in the NBA. He previously won the MVP award last season and is a strong contender to repeat this year. The Thunder have won nine straight games, demonstrating their consistent performance and potential for a deep playoff run.
The Thunder’s playoff berth marks the 13th time the franchise has reached the postseason since the 2009-2010 season, the second-most in the NBA during that span. This achievement is particularly notable given the team’s previous three-year absence from the playoffs between 2020 and 2023, highlighting a rapid and successful rebuild.
As of March 20, the Western Conference playoff bracket is shaping up as follows: the Thunder (1) will face the winner of the Play-In Tournament (8), the San Antonio Spurs (2) will play the other Play-In winner (7), the Los Angeles Lakers (3) will face the Denver Nuggets (6), and the Minnesota Timberwolves (4) will accept on the Houston Rockets (5).
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons (1) will face a Play-In Tournament winner (8), the Boston Celtics (2) will play another Play-In winner (7), the New York Knicks (3) will face the Atlanta Hawks (6), and the Cleveland Cavaliers (4) will play the Toronto Raptors (5).
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled to initiate on April 14, with the first round of the playoffs starting on April 18. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for June 3. The Play-In Tournament matchups include the Phoenix Suns (7) versus the LA Clippers (8) and the Portland Trail Blazers (9) versus the Golden State Warriors (10) in the Western Conference, and the Orlando Magic (7) versus the Miami Heat (8) and the Philadelphia 76ers (9) versus the Charlotte Hornets (10) in the Eastern Conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s primary focus now shifts to securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season. While the San Antonio Spurs have also clinched a playoff spot, the race for the top seed remains ongoing.
Teams eliminated from postseason contention include the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz in the Western Conference, and the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference.
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