Thunder complete 4-0 sweep of Suns, become first team through

Oklahoma City closed out Phoenix 131-122 on Monday night, completing a 4-0 first-round sweep and becoming the first team into the 2026 conference semifinals. (espn.com) (nba.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and handed out eight assists in Game 4, while Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) Oklahoma City scored 37 points in the first quarter and 38 in the second, taking a 75-67 lead into halftime before matching Phoenix 31-31 in the third. (espn.com) The Thunder shot 17-for-34 from three-point range and 26-for-30 at the foul line, enough to offset Phoenix’s 53% shooting from the field. (espn.com) Phoenix got 24 points from Devin Booker, 23 from Dillon Brooks and 23 from Jalen Green, but the Suns never erased the early deficit. (espn.com) The sweep was Oklahoma City’s third straight first-round sweep, according to the NBA’s Monday playoff live blog and the league’s Game 4 preview. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) Oklahoma City entered the postseason as the West’s No. 1 seed after a 64-18 regular season, while Phoenix finished 45-37 and drew the No. 8 seed. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) The NBA said the Thunder will play the winner of the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers series in the second round. (nba.com) Oklahoma City is through early; the rest of the West bracket is still playing catch-up. (nba.com)