The Oklahoma City Thunder are up 3-0 on the Lakers in the semifinals after sweeping the Suns in the first round. It's looking like they could advance to the conference finals after yet another sweep, so what's to worry about? Well, what the Knicks did to the Sixers on Sunday.
New York beat Philadelphia, 144-114, for the series sweep, and that wasn't even the most points they've scored in the playoffs so far. In Game 6 of the first round, the Knicks cruised to a 140-89 win over the Hawks. Those 30-plus-point series-clinching wins put them in the same category as the 2025 Thunder, the 2008 Celtics, and the 1987 Lakers — teams that all went on to win the title.
The Knicks are the 4th team in NBA history with multiple 30-point series-clinching wins in a single postseason.
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 10, 2026
They join the 2025 Thunder, 2008 Celtics, and 1987 Lakers.
All 3 of those teams went on to win the NBA title. pic.twitter.com/MC5AoyLALe
Now, that doesn't automatically mean that New York will win the NBA Finals and end its 53-year championship drought, but it's not exactly reassuring, either. The good thing is that it has absolutely nothing to do with the Thunder, who, again, are taking care of their own business. They just haven't done it as dominantly as the Knicks, but that's not a knock against OKC.
Knicks' series-clinching wins put them on same path as 2025 Thunder
New York has easily looked like the best team in the East during the playoffs, but if Oklahoma City were in the East, it would probably own that title. The East was better than most people thought this season, but the West is still where it's at. The Thunder are still the best team in basketball, a title they hope to keep if they repeat.
We could very well be headed straight to a Thunder-Knicks NBA Finals (though that might not be how things shake out), which would be the most entertaining matchup given how both teams are playing now.
If that's what's in the cards, it will still be three weeks before Game 1 of the finals. Chances are, you might forget about New York becoming the fourth team in NBA history with multiple 30-point series-clinching wins. Or maybe you will get another reminder if OKC beats LA by 30+ points to win the series, and then turns around and does the same to Minnesota or San Antonio in the WCF. No one would be against a little extra bit of reassurance.
Fans hope the above tweet won't pop up again in June, proving the trend right once again, unless it pertains to the Thunder, of course!
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