Thunder clinch playoff spot with win vs. Celtics - 'No better test' - ESPN

BOSTON — The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff berth Wednesday night.

But simply returning to the playoffs, after last year's heart-breaking loss to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, is far from the goal. Instead, the Thunder have their eyes on a far bigger prize: the franchise's first NBA championship.

So, rather than the act of clinching that playoff berth, what mattered to Thunder guard — and NBA MVP frontrunner — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was how they did it: by coming into TD Garden and beating the defending champion Boston Celtics on their home floor.

Doing so completed a sweep of the season series for Oklahoma City, and sent the loudest message yet about the intentions Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the Thunder have for the months ahead.

«It's huge,» Gilgeous-Alexander said of the 118-112 win, after putting up 34 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in 39 minutes. «Because they've done it, because they've done what we're trying to do, the games against them are always going to be heightened. They're always going to be a little bit more exciting. They, like I said, achieved what we are trying to accomplish and there's no better test in the NBA.

»You play for late June, and the other team had won late June. So playing against them is always fun, always a really big challenge and something that we get to test ourselves against them.

«I guess we passed two tests so far.»

Not only did the Thunder pass them with flying colors, but they won both games with key players sitting out. In January, it was Chet Holmgren who was watching in street clothes with a hip injury. Holmgren was back and starring for Oklahoma City on Wednesday night — putting up 23 points and 15 rebounds — while