Thunder Secure No. 1 Seed for 3rd Year - Are They Destined for NBA Glory or Heartbreak?

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — For the third consecutive season, the road to the NBA title is undeniably paved through Oklahoma City. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming playoffs, solidifying their place in a prestigious group of teams that have accomplished this feat.

With a decisive 128-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, the defending champions secured their spot as the conference's best regular-season team for the third straight year. This achievement places the Thunder among an elite circle, becoming only the seventh team in NBA history to finish with their conference's top record for at least three consecutive seasons. They now stand alongside legendary squads such as the dominant Celtics of the 1970s and 1980s, the iconic Showtime Lakers, the storied Chicago Bulls of the 1990s, the early 2000s Lakers, and the remarkable Golden State Warriors of the 2010s.

Oklahoma City, with a stunning record of 64-16, has outpaced San Antonio, who finished at 61-19, to claim the league's best overall record. This dominance is not taken lightly by the Thunder, who express gratitude for the hard-earned success as they set their sights on loftier goals in the postseason.

“It feels better for sure, not only because we've had to weather a little more (adversity)," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who contributed 20 points and 11 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter. “But just repeating something and doing it again is always a little bit harder. The league gets better. Players get better. For us to still have the best overall record through those ups and downs speaks volumes to the team.”

Since breaking through two seasons ago with a remarkable 57-win campaign, the Thunder have established themselves as a powerhouse in the league. Last season, they added 68 victories to their record, making them just the third team in NBA history to win at least 64 games in back-to-back seasons, joining the ranks of the 1995-97 Bulls and the 2015-17 Warriors.

However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The playoffs are known for their heightened intensity, and Oklahoma City aims to become the first team to win consecutive championships after finishing with the NBA's best record in back-to-back seasons since Michael Jordan's Bulls did so in 1996 and 1997. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the significance of this achievement.

“It's a great accomplishment,” Daigneault said. “No two seasons are the same, and this season was a lot different experience. ... When you win the championship, that kind of hangs over you as a team the next year. Everybody — including ourselves — you judge yourself against that.”

This season began with a spectacular 24-2 run, prompting many to speculate whether this could be the best regular-season team in NBA history. However, injuries sidelined key players, resulting in an 18-12 record from mid-December to the All-Star break. Yet, the Thunder have regained their momentum, boasting a staggering 22-2 record since then.

Oklahoma City has maintained a position of strength throughout the season, being at least tied for first place in the conference on every single day. This consistency has led them to become only the seventh team in league history to win a conference title wire-to-wire, a feat last achieved by the Golden State Warriors in 2016.

“I thought we did a good job of fighting through everything we saw this year, and it’s paid off,” said Chet Holmgren, who scored 30 points against the Clippers.

While injuries may have hindered their pursuit of the best single-season records, they could also leave the Thunder relatively fresher for the playoff grind. Remarkably, only two players, Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace, have appeared in 70 games this season.

As they prepare for the postseason, the Thunder have two more games left before a few days off to regroup. Gilgeous-Alexander believes the team is ready for the challenges ahead.

"We understand how to win, and the formula for winning," Gilgeous-Alexander said, noting that even without making a free throw for the first time this season, he still scored at least 20 points in his 141st consecutive game. “It's not the razzle-dazzle and the stuff that's cute. Understanding that getting the job done every night, and how to get it done, I think we've built that muscle more than anything.”

As the playoffs approach, the Oklahoma City Thunder stand poised not only to defend their title but also to carve out their place in NBA history.