The Oklahoma City Thunder secured the top seed in the Western Conference after a dominant 135-86 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The team celebrated their accomplishment by donning Northwest Division champions T-shirts and taking a commemorative team photo.
Despite the milestone, the Thunder remained focused on their ultimate goal of playoff success. Rookie center Chet Holmgren emphasized the team's dedication and hard work that led to their No. 1 seed, highlighting their commitment to staying locked in and pursuing the championship.
Oklahoma City's 57-25 record tied them with the Denver Nuggets for the best record in the West, but the Thunder held the tiebreaker, making them the youngest team to earn the top seed since seeding began in 1984. With an average age of 23.9 years, the Thunder showcased their rapid rise from a 24-win team to conference leaders in just two years.
Star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander expressed pride in the team's achievement but emphasized the need to continue working hard and focusing on the task at hand. The Thunder will now await the results of the West play-in games to determine their first-round playoff opponent.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, secured the second seed and will face the winner of the play-in game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers. The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped to the third seed after a loss to the Phoenix Suns, setting up a first-round matchup between the Timberwolves and the Suns.
In other playoff matchups, the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks will meet for the third time in the first round, with Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard leading their respective teams. Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, and Doncic are among the top candidates for this year's MVP award, with Gilgeous-Alexander's stellar performance earning praise from Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.
Daigneault commended Gilgeous-Alexander's impact on both ends of the court and his leadership role on one of the youngest teams in the league. The coach expressed confidence in Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency and poise, highlighting his invaluable contributions to the Thunder's success.
