Thunder Rest Starters, Fall to Suns in Regular Season Finale

Oklahoma City prepares to defend NBA title after securing top playoff seed.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented movements and perspectives of a basketball game, using bold colors to convey the energy and intensity of the sport.The Thunder's strategic rest of their starters sets the stage for a focused title defense in the playoffs.Oklahoma City Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder rested their key players and fell 135-103 to the Phoenix Suns in the final game of the regular season. Despite the loss, the Thunder have already secured the top playoff seed in the Western Conference and are well-rested heading into their title defense.

Why it matters

The Thunder's decision to rest their starters shows they are confident in their position and focused on the postseason, where they will look to defend their NBA championship from last year. Avoiding injuries and keeping their core players fresh is a priority as they prepare for a deep playoff run.

The details

With only eight players available, the Thunder opted to rest their main rotation players against the Suns. This included stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and Luguentz Dort. The team has already clinched the top seed in the Western Conference and wanted to ensure their key guys were well-rested for the playoffs.

  • The Thunder fell to the Suns 135-103 on Sunday, April 13, 2026 to end the regular season.
  • The Thunder have already secured the #1 playoff seed in the Western Conference.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder's star point guard and leading scorer.

Josh Giddey

The Thunder's young rising star and playmaking forward.

Luguentz Dort

The Thunder's lockdown perimeter defender.

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What they’re saying

“We've got bigger goals ahead of us. The regular season is just the warm-up, now it's time to defend our title.”

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder Point Guard

What’s next

The Thunder will now turn their focus to the playoffs, where they will look to defend their NBA championship from last season.

The takeaway

By resting their starters in the regular season finale, the Thunder have prioritized health and freshness over chasing a perfect regular season record. This strategic move positions them well to make a deep playoff run and defend their title.