The Oklahoma City Thunder concluded a historic matchup for the top spot in the Western Conference. The team triumphantly secured the top spot going into the playoffs by beating the Dallas Mavericks 135-86.
For the first time in the NBA, three teams had the same record after 81 games at the top of their conference. The defending champion Denver Nuggets secured the second spot while the Minnesota Timberwolves were defeated.
Thunder defeated Dallas, who rested the majority of their starters, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 15 points in just 15 minutes. As a result, Oklahoma City finished first in their conference for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign, finishing the regular season with a 57-25 record and a five-game winning streak.
Position in the Western Conference
Moreover, Denver tied the team record for most victories (57-25) with a 126-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, but the Thunder prevailed due to a head-to-head tie-breaker.
On the other hand, after the Pelicans’ 124-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns advanced past New Orleans to claim the sixth position in the Western Conference, leaving Minnesota to settle for the third spot. This means that Phoenix will automatically qualify for the playoffs, while New Orleans will need to win two games in the play-in round for the team to advance.
As for the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics had won their games decisively. With Payton Pritchard posting a career-high 38 points, they defeated the Washington Wizards 132-122 despite resting most of their players and ending with the NBA’s best record (64-18). The Miami Heat were one win behind the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers as they entered the final round with 46-35.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: BCC
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