Thunder Reign Supreme in West as Playoff Field Finalized
The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, capping a remarkable turnaround for the young squad. The Thunder’s 135-86 rout of the Dallas Mavericks, coupled with losses by the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, secured the top spot for OKC.
Suns Avoid Play-In, Claim No. 6 Seed
In other key Western Conference developments, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Timberwolves 125-106 to lock up the No. 6 seed and final guaranteed playoff berth. Bradley Beal led the way with 36 points on perfect 6-for-6 shooting from deep.
The Suns’ win, along with the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, allowed Phoenix to sidestep the play-in tournament.
“We all know what got us here. It’s just about sticking to that and keeping our heads down, trusting the work,” said Suns star Devin Booker, who added 23 points and 7 assists.
Pacers Punch Playoff Ticket in East
The Eastern Conference also saw its final playoff spot claimed as the Indiana Pacers blew out the Atlanta Hawks 142-100 to secure the No. 6 seed. The Pacers will face the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
“There’s not really a lot of words for it,” said Pacers coach Jamahl Mosley. “You talk about a group that’s been up, been down, battled back, resilient … They proved it. Big stakes, they took it in their own hands.“
Play-In Matchups Set
The play-in tournament matchups are now finalized. In the West, the No. 7 Lakers will host the No. 8 Pelicans, while the No. 9 Sacramento Kings welcome the No. 10 Golden State Warriors.
The East play-in will feature the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers hosting the No. 8 Miami Heat, followed by the No. 9 Chicago Bulls taking on the No. 10 Atlanta Hawks.
Young Thunder Squad Ready for Spotlight
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault expressed immense pride in his team, the third-youngest in the NBA to start the season.
“To be a playoff team, to be the No. 1 seed – we don’t take that for granted at all. We’re incredibly excited,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of letting it rip with that opportunity.“
OKC will await the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 play-in game. “What we’ve accomplished to this point doesn’t impact that,” said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “But I do think we’ve built great habits. We’ve done it together.“
The 2024 NBA playoffs are set to tip off on April 20 following the conclusion of the play-in tournament5. With young upstarts like the Thunder and established powers like the Celtics and Bucks in the mix, the chase for the championship promises to be as thrilling as ever.
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