Having secured home-court advantage throughout the postseason, the defending champions opened the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns .
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 Oklahoma City Thunder - Los Angeles Clippers - Video 1
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. Despite the loss, the Clippers had already secured
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. Despite the loss
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.
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
Watch the top plays and full game recap of the Thunder's division-clinching victory over the Clippers:
