The OKC Thunder have punched their ticket to the NBA Playoffs for the third year in a row after defeating the Orlando Magic 113-108 to become the first team this season to secure their playoff spot.
It’s not been long since the Thunder were considered to be the most egregious tanking team in the NBA, with many of those pieces now leading the team to championship glory, like MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and coach Mark Daigneault. They remember the losing days, so they’re unlikely to take winning for granted.
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Coach Daigneault addressed the media after the win over the Magic, sharing a long statement on the team’s return to the playoffs to have a chance to defend their championship win last season.
“We’re proud of that. It’s not easy. We won the championship last year, and I think that can warp the way that you look at other things like clinching a playoff spot or division titles. Things that obviously are not as significant as a championship but that are very difficult to do nonetheless. So we’re proud of the accomplishment, and it’s something we don’t take for granted.”
“The opportunity to compete in this postseason is a privilege that we don’t take lightly. It’s not something that we feel entitled to. It’s something that’s earned, and this team has earned that. Hopefully we earn more. But if we want to, we’ve got to continue to show up and perform. This team has done a great job, obviously.”
The Thunder are currently the best team in the NBA with a 54-15 record. They’re closely followed by Western Conference rivals San Antonio Spurs with a 50-18 record and East’s No. 1 seed, the Detroit Pistons, who are 49-19.
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If the Thunder secure the No. 1 seed this season, it’ll be their third-straight season going into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the conference. Their first appearance in the playoffs ended unceremoniously with a second-round exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, but they won a championship last season by beating the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game Finals series.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks on during a game.© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
(© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
They’ll be hoping to add a second title to their collection this season. The competition will be fierce but it’s evident that the Thunder don’t intend on taking their opponents lightly. The team is led by MVP frontrunner Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s averaging 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists this season.
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The Thunder are the only team to secure a playoff spot, but six other West teams are guaranteed a Play-In Tournament appearance at minimum already. The picture for the title is taking shape, but the Thunder still look like the biggest piece.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.