Oklahoma City Thunder sweep their way to second round

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the second half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Oklahoma City Thunder sweep their way to second round

By Sean Keane | Last updated Apr 28, 2026 1:44 AM ET

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Facing elimination, the Phoenix Suns didn't lie down against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It wasn't enough to avoid a four-game sweep.

The Suns shot 53 percent against the NBA's No. 1 defense, outscored the Thunder in the paint and forced 16 turnovers but still fell to OKC's three-point barrage in a 131-122 Game 4 win. It's the end of a surprising Suns season, though only one step in the Thunder's quest to repeat as NBA champions.

Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelmed Phoenix Suns

On a night where the Suns had four players score in double figures and cracked 109 points for the first time in the first-round series, the Thunder got it done with their own offense. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and shot an unforgettable 9-for-11 from the foul line. Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 12 rebounds, but it was the hot shooting up and down the roster that carried the Thunder.

They shot 17-for-34 from deep, with seven different OKC players making at least one three. Second-year guard Ajay Mitchell went 4-for-6 on his way to 22 points, while Alex Caruso matched him with 4-for-6 shooting and 14 of the Thunder's 35 bench points.

Shot clock means nothing to a real hooper ‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/fLIEPftxS7
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 28, 2026

SGA, Holmgren, Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace also hit multiple three-pointers. Taken altogether, it was too much for the Suns, even with Collin Gillespie going 6-for-11. Jalen Green was red-hot in the Suns' two play-in games but went cold in the first round, going 1-for-10 in Monday's loss and 7-for-34 in the series.

Oklahoma City Thunder won in multiple ways

The first-round series was a four-game sweep, with the Thunder winning by an average margin of 17.3 points. They got those wins in a variety of ways.

OKC held Phoenix to only 84 points in Game 1 and collected 14 steals in Game 2. In Game 3, Gilgeous-Alexander took over with 42 on 15-for-18 shooting. Game 4, it was an avalanche of three-pointers and a double-barreled effort on the boards from Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (12 rebounds each).

The overall result of the series was almost never in doubt, but the Thunder got a challenge from the feisty Suns. It didn't slow up their campaign to go back-to-back, and it did give them a much-needed test going into the second round.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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