The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a playoff berth on Tuesday, becoming the first team to do so this season after a 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic.
It marks the franchise’s 13th playoff appearance since 2010, according to the team.
Oklahoma City extended its winning streak to nine games and now holds the league’s best record at 54-15 with 13 games left.
The victory guarantees them at least a top-six finish in the Western Conference and a spot in the opening round.
Meanwhile, the Suns, who entered Tuesday in seventh place, had 39 wins, depending on their result against Minnesota.
Despite the milestone, the race for the No. 1 seed isn’t over. The Spurs came into their matchup with Sacramento with 50 wins, keeping pressure on Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are also close to locking up their division, though that depends on outcomes involving the Timberwolves and Nuggets.
The reigning champions got off to a dominant start, winning 24 of their first 25 games.
They then went through a more balanced stretch, splitting the next 12, followed by a four-game win streak around late December and early January.
Another five-game run came in mid-January, before a 10-8 stretch over the next 18 games leading into their current surge.
Thunder Become First Team To Clinch Playoff Spot https://t.co/XdMW2K9Eb5 pic.twitter.com/g1ixG99r99
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 18, 2026
