After dropping three-straight losses for the first time all season, the OKC Thunder find themselves amid a four-game win streak as they beeline toward their first playoff excursion since 2020.
Friday night, Mark Daigneault's club took down the visiting Bucks by a final score of 125-107, which not only secured the team their third-highest win-total campaign since making their way to the 405 back in 2008 but it also thrust them, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, into the record books.
With all three of these aforementioned teams sporting a 56-25 record, according to the NBA's communications account on X (previously Twitter) this marks the first time in league history where "three teams, through 81 games, all have the same record and chance to capture the #1 seed in their respective conference."
Denver, Minnesota and Oklahoma City will each enter the final day of the @NBA regular season with the same record of 56-25.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 13, 2024
This marks the first time in league history in which three teams, through 81 games, all have the same record and chance to capture the #1 seed in their…
OKC Thunder enter history books alongside Nuggets, Timberwolves
Throughout the year, all three clubs have been neck and neck in the race to land the top seed in the Western Conference standings, with all trading places consistently. Interestingly enough, the Nuggets had a chance to secure the coveted position Friday night, though lost in surprising fashion to the San Antonio Spurs in the closing seconds of regulation.
While there are many outcomes that could come about heading into Sunday's regular season finale, fortunately for the Thunder, should they win their bout against the Dallas Mavericks, regardless of how the other teams finish, they'll be the ones heading into the postseason with full-out homecourt advantage through at least round three.
With this, it makes MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's mission all the more clear -- will your team to a win and you reign supreme in the west heading into the playoffs.
Though a team like Dallas certainly won't make accomplishing such a feat easy, twice this season the Thunder have proven capable of pulling out a victory.
Now, in front of what is presumed to be a raucous home crowd at Paycom Center, one should like their odds of claiming win number three in the series.