Oklahoma City Thunder - Los Angeles Clippers - Video 1 -

Having secured home-court advantage throughout the postseason, the defending champions opened the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns .

The Oklahoma City Thunder (64-16) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (41-39) 128-110 on , a victory that clinched the NBA's best record and the No. 1 overall seed for the third consecutive season. Wed, Apr 8 Thunder won! Game Highlights Oklahoma City Thunder - Los Angeles Clippers - Video 1

Watch the top plays and full game recap of the Thunder's division-clinching victory over the Clippers: Wed, Apr 8 Thunder won

Despite the loss, the Clippers had already secured a spot in the play-in tournament. They were eventually eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the play-in round. The Clippers, playing without , were led by

The Clippers, playing without , were led by Kawhi Leonard's 20 points, but they were unable to overcome an early 25-point deficit. Key Statistics Chet Holmgren Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Isaiah Joe Kawhi Leonard Kobe Sanders Playoff Implications

As a result of the Clippers' elimination, their 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected) officially transferred to Oklahoma City as the final piece of the 2019 Paul George trade.

The Thunder dominated from the start, led by a standout performance from , who recorded 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his record to 141 consecutive games with at least 20 points, finishing with 20 points and 11 assists.