OKC Thunder Closing in on Top Seed in West

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder eye third straight No. 1 playoff spot

Apr. 5, 2026 at 11:39am

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the verge of clinching the top seed in the Western Conference for the NBA Playoffs, moving three games ahead of the Denver Nuggets after Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets defeated Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in overtime.

Why it matters

Securing the No. 1 seed in the West would give the Thunder home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as they look to make a deep postseason run. The race for the top spot has been tight all season between OKC and the Nuggets.

The details

The Thunder's magic number to clinch the West's top seed is now down to just a few games after the Nuggets' victory over the Spurs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the way for OKC, who are seeking their third consecutive No. 1 playoff berth in the West.

  • The Thunder currently hold a three-game lead over the Nuggets with just a few games remaining in the regular season.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder who has led the team's push for the top seed in the Western Conference.

Nikola Jokic

The superstar center for the Denver Nuggets, who rallied his team to an overtime victory over the Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama

The highly touted rookie playing for the San Antonio Spurs, who fell to the Nuggets in overtime.

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What’s next

The Thunder will look to clinch the top seed in the West over the final few games of the regular season.

The takeaway

The Thunder's consistent excellence has them on the verge of a third straight No. 1 playoff seed in the West, a testament to their roster led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and their ability to maintain a high level of play throughout the season.