The Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the number one seed in the Western Conference for the NBA playoffs following a decisive 135-86 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who scored 15 points in the first half, achieved a regular-season record of 57-25. This marks their first return to the playoffs since the 2019-20 season and their first top seed since the 2012-13 season. Oklahoma City clinched the top position through a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Denver Nuggets, who shared the same record.

In related developments, Victor Wembanyama significantly contributed to the San Antonio Spurs’ victory against the Denver Nuggets, battling for top seeding. He recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, underscoring a vital performance that resulted in a three-way tie at the top of the Western Conference at one point.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference has also finalized its play-in field. The Miami Heat, positioned eighth, are set to face the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, while the Atlanta Hawks will confront the Chicago Bulls in an elimination game. This sets the stage for an intense post-season commencing on April 21 at the TD Garden, with Boston Celtics holding the best overall NBA record (64-18) and leading the Eastern Conference.

The playoff landscape also sees the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors gearing up for significant matches, adding to the anticipation of the playoffs, which promise competitive matchups across both conferences.