Thunder clinch top seed with 128‑110 win
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- Thunder clinched the NBA's top seed with a 128-110 road win over the LA Clippers on Wednesday night.
- Thunder secured their third consecutive Western Conference No. 1 seed, becoming only the sixth team since 1983‑84 to achieve a three‑season top‑seed streak.
- Thunder amassed 132 regular‑season wins over the past two campaigns (68‑14 last season, 64‑16 with two games remaining), trailing only the Bulls and Warriors in two‑year win totals.
- Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander posted 20 points and 11 assists in the win, noting that checking off “boxes” signals the team is headed in the right direction.
- Thunder aim to be the fifth NBA franchise to pair a league‑best record with a back‑to‑back championship, a feat last done by the Bulls (1995‑96/96‑97) and Lakers (86‑87/87‑88).
- Mark Daigneault highlighted the team’s resilience despite injuries, including Jalen Williams’ wrist and hamstring issues limiting him to 33 games, and praised their “zest and joy” in facing daily challenges.
Why it matters: By locking the league’s best record, the Thunder gain home‑court advantage throughout the playoffs and join an elite group of franchises that have ever held the top seed for three straight years, positioning them for a rare back‑to‑back championship run that could reshape the league’s power balance.
