Chet Holmgren says he has stopped “making an attempt to win the Tremendous Bowl on each single play” after scoring 30 factors and 14 rebounds to assist the the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder seal the Western Convention primary seed with a 128-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
The Thunder achieved the feat for a 3rd straight season and are on a seven-game profitable run – dropping one in every of their final 20 contests – as they put together to have residence benefit all through their title protection within the playoffs.
“I really feel like my understanding of urgency with persistence has gotten quite a bit higher,” mentioned Holmgren, an NBA champion in 2025 and All-Star this season.
“Now that I’ve performed lots of video games, I perceive much more that simply placing stress on different groups over 48 minutes, they’re going to make errors and also you’re going to search out cracks, you’re going to have alternatives.
“It’s not at all times about making an attempt to pressure something on one single play, however extra about having the correct amount of stress that you just placed on the opposite crew to present them an opportunity to mess up – and simply benefit from the cracks throughout the recreation.”
Thunder vs Clippers: How Daigneault ‘evokes’ Oklahoma
Oklahoma have thrived regardless of an injury-strewn season together with points for the likes of Ajay Mitchell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 factors in opposition to the Clippers and Williams 18, however Mark Daigneault has needed to rely extra on Holmgren as a result of the coach’s ranks have been depleted.
“Adversity isn’t surprising,” mentioned Holmgren. “It pops up in several methods and accidents is likely one of the methods we’ve seen it this yr.
“You’ll be able to’t flip them into excuses and I really feel like we did a great job of combating via every part we noticed this yr. It’s paid off.
“Mark is someone who evokes us not solely to be able to play, however to play a sure method. We are able to belief that no matter he’s telling us is true as a result of he’s taking the time to essentially be taught the sport, be taught us as gamers and assume via what’s most advantageous for us, so it’s straightforward for us to belief what he says and go on the market and try to do it.”
Acquired to it on each ends tonight ↔️ pic.twitter.com/cqFFgvxqYa
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 9, 2026
Holmgren’s haul included 24 first-half factors. “I’ve a singular talent set and a singular, I assume you would say, physique sort,” acknowledged the 7ft 1in middle or energy ahead.
“I’ve been given sure god-given skills, however I’ve additionally tried to maximise the chance that has given me.
“I nonetheless have a protracted solution to go and I’ve to maintain getting higher. However these performs are fairly enjoyable they usually get me juiced once they occur, too.”
Evaluation: Donovan Mitchell on Hawks vs Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell scored a minimum of 20 factors in a two hundredth regular-season recreation to assist the Cleveland Cavaliers lengthen the Atlanta Hawks’ dropping run to 2 video games – having received their earlier 4 – on the Rocket Area.
Atlanta had been 67-56 forward within the first quarter and would have tied if Sam Merrill had scored a three-pointer within the fourth, however the Cavaliers are actually assured to complete a minimum of fourth within the Japanese Convention courtesy of a 122-116 victory.
“This crew has been enjoying phenomenal basketball,” Mitchell informed ESPN of the Hawks, explaining that Cleveland’s activity had been to “simply stick with it”, dealing with opponents for whom Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 factors and Jonathan Kuminga posted 24.
“They’ve obtained lots of expertise. Simply stick with it. They’re enjoying in addition to we’re for one thing. They’re competing.
“You’ve obtained to present them credit score. They battled for 48 minutes, however I informed my guys it’s all psychological. Proceed to discover a method. It is a playoff-like ambiance, playoff-like recreation.”
James Harden registered 21 factors in Cleveland’s fourth straight win. “Typically his presence is simply adequate,” noticed Mitchell.
“That’s the largest factor. Within the timeouts and the huddles, he’s been that chief for us. We’re simply persevering with to higher ourselves, and he’s been an enormous a part of that.”
Evan Mobley completed on 22 factors and matched his career-best with 19 rebounds. “I informed him that’s the aggression we’re going to wish all through the complete playoffs,” mentioned Mitchell.
“The scoring is nice, however my factor is the aggression. Proceed to be aggressive on each ends of the ground. That’s what he was doing.”
NBA outcomes: Cade Cunningham returns for Detroit
Elsewhere within the NBA, the Denver Nuggets are on a 10-game profitable run and on track for third seed within the Western Convention.
Japanese Convention leaders the Detroit Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks 137-111 at Little Caesars Area, the place Cade Cunningham scored 13 factors in 26 minutes on the guard’s return from a collapsed lung.
Listed here are the most recent NBA outcomes from April 8, 2026.
| End result |
| Magic 132-120 Timberwolves |
| Cavaliers 122-116 Hawks |
| Pistons 137-111 Hawks |
| Nuggets 136-119 Grizzlies |
| Spurs 112-101 Path Blazers |
| Suns 112-107 Mavericks |
| Thunder 128-110 Clippers |
NBA standings, playoffs bracket: How the image appears to be like
If the common season had ended after the most recent spherical of video games, the Miami Warmth would meet the Charlotte Hornets and the Philadelphia 76ers would encounter the Orlando Magic in play-in matches.
The Portland Path Blazers would face the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns would additionally tackle the LA Clippers in these video games.
The confirmed first spherical play-off video games would come with the Los Angeles Lakers in opposition to the Houston Rockets, the Nuggets in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a rematch between the Cavaliers and Hawks and the New York Knicks in opposition to the Toronto Raptors.
Yow will discover the most recent play-off image and standings on the NBA’s site.
