Thunder sweep Suns 4-0

Oklahoma City closed out Phoenix 131-122 on Monday night, completing a 4-0 first-round sweep and becoming the first team into the Western Conference semifinals. (nba.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Isaiah Hartenstein added 18 points and 12 boards in Game 4 at Mortgage Matchup Center. (nba.com) Oklahoma City broke the game open with a 27-12 run to end the first half, then finished 17-for-34 from 3-point range and 26-for-30 at the free-throw line. (nba.com) (espn.com) The sweep kept intact a run of first-round control that now spans three postseasons. The Thunder are 12-0 in first-round games over the last three years, according to the Associated Press game recap carried by NBA.com. (nba.com) The series also extended Oklahoma City’s postseason path from last spring’s title run into another deep bracket. NBA.com said the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the third straight year. (nba.com) Phoenix stayed competitive late, trimming the deficit to eight entering the fourth quarter, but never got closer than a few possessions after that. Devin Booker scored 24 points, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green had 23 each, and Collin Gillespie added 20. (nba.com) The Suns entered the playoffs through the play-in and drew the West’s No. 1 seed after beating Golden State to claim the No. 8 spot. Their season ended with a fourth straight loss in the series. (espn.com) (nba.com) Oklahoma City now waits for the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series, with the Lakers holding a 3-1 lead after four games. The Thunder got out early; the rest of the West is still playing catch-up. (nba.com)