Photo: Peter Baba

The Oklahoma City Thunder began the 2026 playoffs dominantly, sweeping the Phoenix Suns in the first round and reinforcing a trend strongly tied to championship success.

Over the past decade, every NBA title winner has advanced past the opening round in five games or fewer, a streak that dates back to the Golden State Warriors’ 2015 title run.

Oklahoma City followed the same formula last season, sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies before ultimately winning the championship.

That puts them among a small group of teams since 2003 to sweep the first round and go on to claim the title, alongside squads like the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Their latest sweep keeps them firmly aligned with a historical blueprint that has consistently pointed toward championship success.

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