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Oklahoma City Thunders (Source: X)
In the last game of the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks by 135-86. This win resulted in the Oklahoma City Thunders ending their regular season in the No.1 position in the Western Conference. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points as Oklahoma City Thunders on 57 games and lost 25 games they are now equalled with the Denver Nuggets who are placed in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
Since the 2012-13 NBA season Oklahoma City Thunder hasn’t finished in the top spot and since the 2019-20 NBA season they haven’t qualified for playoffs. According to AP News, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated, “We all know what got us to this point.” “Just doubling down on that and keeping our heads down and trusting the work. We got this far for a reason. Just don’t veer off of it.” However, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault stated that he is proud of the squad as they started the season as the third youngest team in the league.
We’ve done it together - Mark Daigneault
As per AP News, Mark Daigneault stated “We’re zero and zero when we wake up tomorrow morning for the playoffs.” “So, what we’ve accomplished to this point doesn’t impact that. But I do think we’ve built great habits. We’ve done it together. Again, I have a lot of confidence, but not because of our age ... but because of how the guys have performed and the things they’ve built together.”
While Chet Holmgren scored 13 points and nine rebounds and Aaron Wiggins scored 14 points as they won their fifth consecutive game to end their regular season. The Thunder entered the day tied with the Nuggets and Timberwolves for the Western Conference's best record. For the first time in NBA history, three teams were tied for the conference lead heading into the final day of the season. They managed to secure the top seed despite Gilgeous-Alexander missing six games late in the season due to an injured right thigh.
Now Dallas Mavericks will face the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Playoffs series. Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the winner of the play-in tournament.