The Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the first postseason berth of the 2025-26 NBA season after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 47-15 on March 1. This marks the earliest postseason clinch in recent NBA history, positioning the Thunder as the team to beat in the Western Conference. The victory extends their dominance over Dallas this season.

With the playoffs beginning April 18 and the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament running April 14-16, the Thunder's early clinch provides valuable rest and preparation time. Last season's champions are now aiming to become the first team to repeat since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. The Thunder currently lead the San Antonio Spurs in the race for the No. 1 seed.

Several other teams are on the brink of clinching their own postseason spots as the regular season winds down. The Thunder's achievement underscores their consistency and championship pedigree, having gone from first seed to NBA Finals champions last year. Their early clinch sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting playoff race.