Inside The Thunder

OKC Thunder Clinch NBA Playoff Spot With Win Over Celtics

The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff spot with their win over the Boston Celtics and it continues to build an impressive franchise resume since relocation.

Rylan Stiles

Mar 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) returns the ball against the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Mar 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) returns the ball against the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images
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The Oklahoma City Thunder earned a 118-112 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in a showcase game on ESPN. This was an impressive win by the OKC Thunder to boost its record to 54-12, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference by 12 games.

This win did not just add to the Thunder's eye-popping record, but punched its ticket to the NBA Playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder become the first Western Conference team to earn an NBA Playoff bid and just the second NBA team to do such as the Cleveland Cavaliers did so earlier this year.

As the Oklahoma City have secured a top-six seed in the West –– cruising to its second straight No. 1 seed –– it marks the 12th playoff appearance since the 2009-10 season, the second most in the NBA during that span. If you count the NBA play-in berth in 2022-23, the OKC Thunder have 13 postseaosn trips in that timeline.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a rich history since relocating to Bricktown and this accomplishment only adds to its lofty resume.

Up next, the OKC Thunder will travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Saturday in the front end of a back-to-back set which wraps up on Sunday in Milwaukee against the Bucks to put an end to this three game Eastern Conference road trip and a stretch of five straight games against current playoff squads in the standings.

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Rylan Stiles
RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is Lead Beat Writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network. 

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