NBA: Thunder eager to clinch top spot in West in visit to Clippers

The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder can secure the top playoff seed in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in Inglewood, California.

Oklahoma City (63-16) is riding a hot streak heading into the playoffs, winning 18 of their last 19 games. The Thunder claimed their sixth consecutive victory with a dominant 123-87 road win over a short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 25 points and eight assists, while Chet Holmgren added 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Thunder bench also made a major impact, as Isaiah Joe scored 18 points and Jared McCain contributed 15. Joe made six 3-pointers as Oklahoma City shot 50.6% from the field and an impressive 51.2% from beyond the arc.

“The playoffs aren't here yet, but we've clinched an opportunity to be there,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “We take it a day at a time and try to stay incredibly present, and I do think that is what allows the team to enjoy the process as much as they do. We try to keep two feet on the ground and not look too far ahead.”

With second-place San Antonio Spurs also playing well down the stretch—winning 17 of their last 19 games—the Thunder remain focused on closing in on the top seed in the West.

“We just have to focus on what is in front of us, how we can improve,” Holmgren said. “Seeding doesn't matter until all 82 games are up. We can't focus on the No. 1 seed and lose sight of improvement.”

The Clippers (41-38) recently moved a full game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers for eighth place in the West. The No. 7 and No. 8 seeds will meet in the play-in tournament, with the winner advancing to the playoffs and the loser still having a chance. Teams in the No. 9/10 matchup must win twice to reach the playoff field.

Los Angeles secured a 116-103 home victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points while Darius Garland added 22. Leonard, playing through a sore wrist in the past six games, shot 11-for-19 from the floor and 6-for-10 from 3-point range.

“He's doing it by example, playing every night, playing through injuries and things he's going through right now,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. “He's been able to produce and carry this team to wins.”

After a rough start to the season, going 6-21 following a December 18 loss to the Thunder, Lue challenged the team to finish 35-20. Tuesday marked the Clippers’ 35th win since the challenge.

“I give all the credit to our players and the coaching staff,” Lue added. “The coaches have done an unbelievable job of staying positive and showing the guys ways to get better. And our players are sticking with it.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters