Thunder Clinch No. 1 Seed for Third Straight Year

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the No. 1 seed again. For the third year in a row.

OKC dismantled the Clippers 128-110 on Wednesday night behind a dominant performance from Chet Holmgren, clinching the best record in the NBA at 64-16. That's one win shy of back-to-back 65-win seasons — a level of sustained dominance that puts them in truly rare company.

Since the NBA adopted the 16-team playoff format in the 1983-84 season, only five other franchises have secured three consecutive years as a top seed: the Larry Bird Celtics, the Showtime Lakers, the Michael Jordan Bulls, the Kobe Bryant Lakers, and the Steph Curry Warriors. That's the list. That's where OKC is now.

Last season, the Thunder finished 68-14 and went on to win the NBA title for the first time in franchise history. The question now: can they repeat? With the playoffs tipping off on April 18, they'll have home court locked up throughout. The Western Conference better be ready.