The Thunder are going to look to join that club. The Cavaliers have a shot of getting there as well. Neither team is playing for a No. 1 seed or for a wide-margin win in the conference race. They're playing for something bigger. “We're not letting go of the rope,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson, said, “mentally or physically.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a strong hold on the first seed. That's been the case for most of the season, with a double-digit game lead in the standings. There's been little drama for most of the year on whether they'll repeat as the top seed.

The Oklahoma City Thunder top the Western Conference, closely followed by the Rockets and the Lakers. The Nuggets, with key players out, stay competitive.

The NBA doesn't hand out a trophy for the best regular-season record like hockey, but its prize for the achievement is the next best thing. The better record between the two squads in the NBA Finals will enjoy homecourt advantage as they chase a championship.

It's been known for a while, but the Oklahoma City Thunder officially clinched the West's first seed for the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday sealed that spot.