Thunder sweep Suns, reach West semis

Oklahoma City ended Phoenix’s season Monday night, beating the Suns 131-122 in Game 4 to complete a first-round sweep. (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 Phoenix. (nba.com) (cbssports.com) Oklahoma City shot 17-for-34 from 3-point range and 54% overall, then answered each Phoenix push after the Suns cut the deficit to eight entering the fourth quarter. (nba.com) (cbssports.com) The Thunder are the first team through to the 2026 Western Conference semifinals. They will play the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series, with the Lakers holding a 3-1 lead after four games. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The sweep is Oklahoma City’s third straight first-round sweep, and the franchise is now 12-0 in first-round games over the last three postseasons. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) Phoenix got 24 points from Devin Booker, 23 from Dillon Brooks and 23 from Jalen Green, but the Suns never led after halftime and finished the series without a win. (cbssports.com) The Suns have now lost 10 straight playoff games dating to 2023, according to the Associated Press game recap carried by NBA.com and CBS Sports. (nba.com) (cbssports.com) Oklahoma City also closed the series without Jalen Williams, who missed his second straight game with a left hamstring strain. The Thunder still posted 126.9 points per 100 possessions across the four games, their best offensive series of the last three years, NBA.com reported. (cbssports.com) (nba.com) The Thunder opened the playoffs as the defending champions and looked every bit like a top seed against Phoenix. Four games later, they are resting while the rest of the West keeps playing. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)