OKC secures top seed, ensuring home advantage for the entire playoffs.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Chet Holmgren recorded 30 points and 14 rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 20 points and 11 assists, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to secure the NBA’s top regular-season record with a 128-110 win over the LA Clippers on Wednesday night.
Jalen Williams added 18 points for the NBA champion Thunder (64-16), who will enjoy home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as they defend their title after fending off San Antonio (61-19), which has been on an 18-2 run since February. Oklahoma City has achieved seven consecutive victories and won 19 of their last 20 games to claim the West’s No. 1 seed for the third consecutive season.
Following a record of 68 regular-season wins last year, the Thunder now hold the fourth-most victories in a two-season period in NBA history with 132; the record is held by the 1995-96 and 1996-97 Bulls with 141 wins.
Kawhi Leonard netted 20 points and Brook Lopez contributed 16 for the eighth-place Clippers, who had triumphed in seven of their last nine games. Los Angeles has a record of 35-18 since just before Christmas, but must secure a win in one of their final two games to extend this previously struggling franchise’s streak to 15 consecutive winning seasons.
The Clippers will face Portland on Friday in a pivotal matchup. The winner is likely to finish eighth in the Western Conference, while the loser will drop to ninth, necessitating two victories in the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs.
Gilgeous-Alexander achieved at least 20 points in his record-setting 141st consecutive game, despite not playing in the fourth quarter, while Leonard reached the 20-point mark for the 56th straight game. Leonard is also on track to participate in at least 65 games this season, marking his second-highest total in seven years with the Clippers, which is sufficient for All-NBA consideration.
Holmgren scored 24 points in the first half, helping the Thunder to establish an early 25-point advantage. Oklahoma City shot 58.1% from the field and effectively neutralized the Clippers’ offense, not allowing any fast-break field goals.
Darius Garland was sidelined for the Clippers to manage his toe injury. He has not participated in back-to-back games since Los Angeles acquired him from Cleveland in a trade involving James Harden.
The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.
