The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff berth this season, defeating the Orlando Magic 113-108 on the road Tuesday (March 17) behind another dominant performance from star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, dropped 40 points on 14-of-27 shooting to power Oklahoma City to its ninth consecutive win. The victory improved the Thunder’s record to 54-15, the best mark in the Western Conference.
Forward Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds, while guard Ajay Mitchell chipped in 16 points to help seal the game in the fourth quarter. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, but it wasn’t enough to slow down the Thunder.
Gilgeous-Alexander also extended his own NBA record, now having scored 20 or more points in 129 consecutive games. SGA acknowledged that Oklahoma City had to fight through some adversity during the game.
“We got off to a good start but then the car kind of came off the road for a little bit,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But that’s what great teams do — they figure out a way to get the car back on the road, they figure out a way to go into a building and win a game when the chips are stacked against you, and we did that tonight.”
The Thunder’s playoff clinch marks their third consecutive postseason berth.
With the playoff spot secured, Oklahoma City now turns its attention to locking up the top seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder face the Brooklyn Nets — last in the East with a 9-24 home record — on Wednesday (March 18), giving them a strong opportunity to extend their winning streak heading into the postseason.