Thunder rout Mavericks to take the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference

As the final moments wound down in a 135-86 win over the Dallas Mavericks , the still-standing Thunder fans celebrated a team that went from winning 24 games two seasons ago to having the best record in the Western Conference this season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in one half of action, and the Thunder dominated a depleted Dallas squad on Sunday for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he's proud of a squad that began the season as the third-youngest team in the league.“Nothing’s guaranteed in any year, so, to be a postseason team, to be a one seed — we don’t take that for granted at all," he said. “We’re incredibly excited. And now it’s just a matter of letting it rip with that opportunity.”“We’re zero and zero when we wake up tomorrow morning for the playoffs," Daigneault said.

The Thunder entered the day in a three-way tie with the Nuggets and Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference. It was the first time in NBA history that three teams entered the final day of the season tied for a conference lead. They were able to claim the top seed despite Gilgeous-Alexander missing six games late in the season with a bruised right thigh.

NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic and star guard Kyrie Irving were among the four starters the Mavericks rested. Doncic had a sore left ankle and Irving had a sore left hamstring. The Mavericks already had clinched the No. 5 seed and a first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.Oklahoma City ran out to an 11-0 lead as the Mavericks missed their first four shots. The Thunder led 39-22 at the end of the period.

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