The Oklahoma City Thunder secured the league’s first ticket to the 2025-26 NBA postseason by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 47-15 on Sunday, March 1.
The victory guarantees Oklahoma City at least a place in the upcoming playoffs, which open with the three-day SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14 and formally tip off on April 18. The postseason is scheduled to run through mid-June.
Oklahoma City, now aiming to fend off the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference’s top seed, would finish No. 1 in the West for a second consecutive year if it maintains its current pace. Last season’s squad claimed the franchise’s first championship and is pursuing the NBA’s first repeat title since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
Key upcoming dates
April 14–16: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18: First round of playoffs begins
May 10: NBA draft lottery
With the regular season winding down, additional teams are nearing postseason qualification while others position themselves for the draft lottery.
Source: ESPN
