The Oklahoma City Thunder show dem say dem no dey play yesterday as dem hammer LA Clippers 128-110 for Wednesday match. The win don officially make Thunder clinch first seed for 2026 NBA playoffs. Na third year straight wey dem go dey top of Western Conference. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and him boys join some big-big NBA teams wey don do this kind thing before.
For the game, Thunder lead by as many as 25 points. Chet Holmgren na the main man wey carry the team for back. Him score 30 points, grab 14 rebounds, and block four shots. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander add 20 points and 11 assists. Jalen Williams contribute 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. Isaiah Joe come from bench score 21 points. For Clippers side, Kawhi Leonard get 20 points and eight rebounds. John Collins finish with 12 points and nine rebounds. Brook Lopez add 16 points and six rebounds.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault talk say this achievement na big thing. “No two seasons are the same,” him yarn. “When you win the championship, that kind of thing dey hang over you as a team the next year.” The team begin this season with 24 wins from 26 games, but injuries slow dem down for middle of the season. Since All-Star break, dem don win 22 from 24 games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talk about how hard e dey to repeat success. “It feels better for sure, not only because we’ve had to weather a little more adversity,” the MVP talk. “But just repeating something and doing it again is always a little bit harder. The league gets better. Players get better.”
For the game proper, Thunder start well-well. Holmgren score 14 points for first quarter alone. By halftime, Thunder dey lead 69-49. Clippers try small comeback for third quarter, reduce lead to 87-75 at one point. But Gilgeous-Alexander calm things down with outside jumper, and Alex Caruso go coast-to-coast for basket. Thunder regain control and never look back.
Isaiah Joe catch fire from deep for fourth quarter to put the game away. Thunder bench players get plenty minutes – 13 guys play for this game. The team shoot 58% from the field and make 13 three-pointers from 34 attempts. Dem get 30 assists on 48 baskets.
With this win, Thunder join only seven teams in NBA history wey finish with conference best record for at least three straight seasons. The list include Celtics teams of 1970s and 1980s, Showtime Lakers, 1990s Chicago Bulls, 2000s Lakers and 2010s Golden State Warriors.
Thunder don win at least 64 games for two seasons straight. Only 1995-97 Bulls and 2015-17 Warriors don do this before. Now dem want become first team since Michael Jordan Bulls to win championship after having NBA best record for back-to-back seasons.
The team get two more games before playoffs begin. Gilgeous-Alexander talk say dem understand how to win. “We understand that everybody doing that is the key to success,” him talk. “It’s not the razzle-dazzle and the stuff that’s cute. Understanding that getting the job done every night, and how to get it done, I think we’ve built that muscle more than anything.”
For Clippers side, dem shoot 47% from the field and make 14 three-pointers from 32 attempts. Seven Clippers players score double-digit points. Derrick Jones Jr. Miller total 16 points and six assists. Kobe Sanders add 17 points. Bennedict Mathurin drop 10 points.
Thunder players dey happy but dem know say real work just dey start. Playoffs go begin soon and everybody go dey watch to see if dem fit defend their championship title. For now, dem celebrate small achievement wey many teams never reach before.
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