Thunder sweep Suns 4-0

Oklahoma City closed out Phoenix 131-122 on Monday night, finishing a 4-0 first-round sweep and becoming the first team into the Western Conference semifinals. (espn.com) (nba.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in Game 4, and Chet Holmgren added 24 points as the Thunder put four players in double figures in Phoenix. (espn.com) (oklahoman.com) The final score was closer than the series. Oklahoma City won the first three games 119-84, 120-107 and 121-109 before finishing the sweep on April 27. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) Oklahoma City entered the series as the No. 1 seed after a 64-18 regular season, while Phoenix arrived as the No. 8 seed at 45-37. The matchup never flipped. (espn.com) (nba.com) The sweep extended a striking pattern: the Thunder are now 12-0 in first-round games across the last three postseasons. NBA.com called Oklahoma City the defending champion as it moved on. (espn.com) (nba.com) Phoenix still got big scoring nights in the series, including Dillon Brooks' 33 points and Jalen Green's 26 in Game 3, but the Suns never found a defensive answer for Gilgeous-Alexander or Oklahoma City's bench depth. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The Thunder now wait for the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series. After four straight wins over Phoenix, Oklahoma City gets rest before the next round starts. (espn.com)