The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially secured the best record in the NBA, earning home court advantage throughout the playoffs, including the NBA Finals. This milestone was confirmed following their victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
Despite facing challenges, including missing four key players—among them league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—the Thunder battled through a tough second night of a back-to-back set. They found themselves behind early but turned things around with a strong push before halftime, followed by an impressive third-quarter run to take control of the game.
With their 66th win of the season, Oklahoma City not only secured the top spot in the league but also ensured home court advantage for the entirety of the playoffs. If the Thunder continue their strong performance, they will enjoy the benefit of playing in front of their home crowd all the way to the NBA Finals.
This marks a historic season for the franchise, which is on track to set several records. The Thunder’s 66 wins are their second-highest total in franchise history, the most ever for the team since relocating to Oklahoma City. Additionally, Oklahoma City boasts the best record in the Western Conference, having long since locked in the No. 1 seed in their bracket.
Their achievement of sweeping the back-to-back set is particularly notable, especially considering the challenging circumstances they faced. With only two games left in the regular season, the Thunder have essentially secured their place at the top, leaving their remaining games as a formality.
Cleveland, with a 63-16 record, cannot surpass Oklahoma City in the standings. Even if Cleveland were to win their final games, Oklahoma City holds the tiebreaker due to an outstanding cross-conference record. The Thunder have only lost once to an Eastern Conference team this season, a remarkable feat that no other team has come close to matching.
