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NBA Standings Update: Thunder Clinch First Postseason Berth Since 2020

For the first time in franchise history, OKC will participate in the NBA Play-In after being locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference.

With the Dallas Mavericks' loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, Oklahoma City has clenched the final spot in the Western Conference Play-In tournament, earning its first postseason bid since the 2019-20 season. The Thunder have massively outperformed expectations this year, as the team was projected to be one of the five worst teams in the NBA. 

However, Oklahoma City is still uncertain of who its opponent in the Play-In tournament will be. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers all still have a chance at falling into the ninth seed in the Western Conference. 

Heading into Saturday, April 8, the Timberwolves sit at 40-40, good enough for ninth in the West with two games remaining. Minnesota will take on a shorthanded Spurs team on Saturday before meeting the Pelicans for a crucial matchup at 2:30 P.M. CT on Sunday, April 9. 

The Pelicans currently hold a 42-39 record, with only their matchup against the TImberwolves remaining. If Minnesota is able to knock off both San Antonio and New Orleans, the Timberwolves would climb out of the nine seed.

If Minnesota were to close out the season with two consecutive wins, the Pelicans would likely fall to ninth. If the Clippers dropped both of their remaining two contests, however, Los Angeles would tumble from a solidified playoff spot as the sixth seed into a showdown with Oklahoma City as the nine seed.

The Clippers have a game against the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday afternoon before meeting the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in LA's regular season finale. The Lakers, who are currently the seventh seed in the Western Conference, would need to lose alongside both New Orleans and the Clippers to fall into ninth place in the West. 

The Thunder will likely face the winner of Sunday's matchup between the Pelicans and Timberwolves in the first round of the Play-In tournament on Wednesday, April 12. OKC also plays on Sunday, taking on the Memphis Grizzlies at 2:30 P.M. CT in Oklahoma City. 


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