NBA: Champions Thunder Sweep, Pistons on the Brink

The reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are the first team to qualify for the NBA Conference Semifinals after another victory over the Suns in Phoenix, completing a clean sweep in the first round. This marks the third consecutive year the Thunder have won 4-0 at this stage.

Mark Daigneault's team becomes only the fourth champion in history to begin their playoff title defense without losing a single game in the first round. The previous two, the Miami Heat (2012/2013) and the Detroit Pistons (1989/1990), successfully defended their titles.

Meanwhile, the Suns have now accumulated their 10th consecutive playoff loss (over four years), matching the current worst streak previously held by the Brooklyn Nets.

In last night's game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again shone, delivering an efficient 31 points (10-of-17 from the field, 9-of-11 from the free-throw line). Chet Holmgren (24 points/12 rebounds) and Isaiah Hartenstein (18/12) provided strong support, but the standout performance came from Ajay Mitchell, who capitalized on Jaylen Williams' injury to assert himself with 22 points.

Despite the nine-point difference suggesting a competitive game, the Thunder led throughout the entire second half, and the gap between the two teams never dropped below six points.

The Thunder now await the conclusion of the series between the Lakers and Rockets (which the Los Angeles team leads 3-1) to determine their next opponent.

Also in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets took advantage of the absences of Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo for the Minnesota Timberwolves to cut the series deficit to 2-3, securing a 125-113 victory, propelled by a dominant third quarter.

Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double (27 points, 12 rebounds, 16 assists), but the spotlight for the Nuggets fell on Spencer Jones, who stepped into the starting five for the injured Aaron Gordon and responded with 20 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Julius Randle led the Wolves with 27 points.

The series now shifts back to Minnesota, where the Timberwolves will aim to close out the series at home, avoiding the risk of a Game 7 in Denver.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, the top team in the regular season, are on the brink of elimination after another loss in Orlando to the Magic, who now lead the series 3-1.

The matchup was intense, dominated by strong defense – despite Jamal Cain posterizing Jalen Duren – and poor three-point shooting (a combined 15-of-65 for both teams). However, after his explosion in Game 3, Desmond Bane maintained enough efficiency (5-of-10 from three; the rest of the Magic shot 4-of-25) to decide the game, with a triple 1:16 from the end giving a six-point lead that the Pistons could no longer overcome.