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Recap: Thunder clinch top seed, Nuggets win 10th straight, Cade Cunningham returns

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NBA.com staff reports

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder clinched the best record in the NBA with a win over the Clippers.

What we know from Wednesday’s games

–They’re the best around: The Thunder clinched the top record in the NBA and the top seed in the Western Conference by beating the Clippers.

-Ten straight for Denver: The Nuggets won their 10th straight game and own a 1.5-game cushion on the Lakers and Rockets for the No. 3 seed in the West.

-Cade Cunningham is back: Detroit’s star guard returned from a collapsed lung Wednesday night and scored 13 points in 26 minutes.

-Hawks miss chance to clinch playoff spot: Atlanta can clinch a playoff spot with one more win, but Cleveland delayed that from happening Wednesday night.

Wednesday night’s results:

Magic 132, Timberwolves 120

Cavaliers 122, Hawks 116

Pistons 137, Hawks 111

Nuggets 136, Grizzlies 119

Spurs 112, Trail Blazers 101

Suns 112, Mavericks 107

Thunder 128, Clippers 110

APRIL 9, 2026 / 12:39 AM ET

Building a legacy

The defending champion Thunder are now the top seed in the West for the third straight season.

APRIL 9, 2026 / 12:28 AM ET

They’re No. 1

The Thunder clinched the top record in the NBA and the top seed in the Western Conference with a 128-110 victory over the Clippers.

Chet Holmgren scored 30 points in the clinching victory.

APRIL 9, 2026 / 12:22 AM ET

The Spurs are something

San Antonio improved to 18-2 in its last 20 games on Wednesday night.

Check out the De’Aaron Fox highlight reel.

APRIL 9, 2026 / 12:17 AM ET

Walkin’ on the sun

Devin Booker scored 37 points on 13-for-27 shooting and Dillon Brooks chipped in with 28 to pace the play-in bound Suns to a 112-107 victory over the Mavericks.

APRIL 9, 2026 / 12:05 AM ET

Greatness

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hits 140 straight games with at least 20 points.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 11:58 PM ET

Spurred on

De’Aaron Fox scored 25 points to lead the Spurs to a 112-101 win over the Trail Blazers.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 11:41 PM ET

Anatomy of a streak

Eight of Denver’s wins during its 10-game win have come at home.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 11:21 PM ET

Gold rush

Jamal Murray scored 26 points to lead the Nuggets to their 10th straight victory, a 136-119 win over the Grizzlies.

Nikola Jokić added a triple-double (14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists).

APRIL 8, 2026 / 11:12 PM ET

Chetmate

Chet Holmgren is doing it all. Holmgren has 24 points on 8-for-10 shooting to lead the Thunder to a 69-49 halftime lead over the Clippers. If Oklahoma City hangs on to win, it will clinch the best record in the NBA and top seed in the West.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 11:03 PM ET

Walking on sunshine

Devin Booker has 19 points and the Suns own a 61-53 lead over the Mavericks at halftime. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg has been held to six points.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 10:51 PM ET

Joker’s wild

Nikola Jokić has a triple-double (14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists) and the Nuggets own a 107-94 lead over Memphis after three quarters.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 10:45 PM ET

No Wemby? No problem

Victor Wembanyama is out Wednesday night but the Spurs are up 61-51 on the Trail Blazers at the half.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 10:36 PM ET

Watch Donovan work

Donovan Mitchell got his points in a wide variety of ways Wednesday.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 10:28 PM ET

Digging for gold

The Nuggets trailed 72-68 at halftime.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 10:02 PM ET

One more try

The Hawks will get another shot at clinching against the Cavaliers on Friday night.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 9:41 PM ET

Firing on all cylinders

The East’s No. 1 seed keeps rolling. Cade Cunningham scored 13 points in his return from a collapsed lung and the Pistons carved out a 137-111 win over the Bucks.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 9:35 PM ET

Not tonight, Atlanta

Donovan Mitchell scores 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting and the Cavaliers win, 122-116, keeping the Hawks from clinching a playoff spot.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 9:26 PM ET

This Magic moment

Orlando earns its fourth straight win, a 132-120 victory over the Timberwolves. Paolo Banchero (20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists) led the way for the Magic.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 9:01 PM ET

A big night for Donovan

Donovan Mitchell has beaten the buzzer twice and has 27 points heading into the fourth quarter against Atlanta.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 8:58 PM ET

It don’t come easy

The Cavaliers are making it tough on the Hawks in their bid to clinch a playoff berth. Cleveland led Atlanta 104-87 after three quarters.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 8:22 PM ET

Cade and company

Cade Cunningham is 3-for-6 from the field with 6 points at the half and the Pistons are up big 75-57 on the Bucks.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 8:18 PM ET

Flying high

Jonathan Kuminga leads the way with 14 points and the Hawks lead at the half.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 8:14 PM ET

Poster dunk

The Timberwolves trail the Magic 63-53 at the half but Terrence Shannon Jr. turned some heads with a highlight dunk in the second quarter.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 7:52 PM ET

Buzzer beater

Donovan Mitchell gets to the basket to end the first quarter against the Hawks.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 7:45 PM ET

Potential clincher?

The Hawks can clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Cavaliers tonight, but so far they trail 33-29 after the first quarter.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 7:43 PM ET

Welcome back, Cade

Cade Cunningham is back at the wheel for the Pistons and Detroit leads Milwaukee 34-28 at the end of the first quarter.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 7:29 PM ET

The Jalen Duren Address

Jalen Duren thanks the Pistons faithful for a great regular season and gets them excited for the upcoming playoff schedule.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 7:25 PM ET

It’s McDaniels

Jaden McDaniels is on fire for the Timberwolves early in the first quarter against the Magic.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 6:59 PM ET

Cade comeback

Cade Cunningham will make his return from a collapsed lung when the Pistons take on the Bucks tonight.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 6:34 PM ET

Hawks eye division title

Dyson Daniels and the Hawks can clinch a division title and a spot in the playoffs with a victory over the Cavaliers.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 5:55 PM ET

Everybody’s looking for the ladder

Kon Knueppel edged Cooper Flagg in the final Kia Rookie Ladder of the Season.

APRIL 8, 2026 / 5:50 PM ET

Welcome to a 7-game slate of NBA action

It’s a big night in the NBA. The Oklahoma City Thunder can clinch the best record in the NBA and No. 1 seed in the West with a win or a Spurs loss, and the Atlanta Hawks can clinch the Southeast Division by beating Orlando.

Here’s the complete schedule:

  • Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Orlando Magic, 7 ET
  • Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 ET
  • Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons, 7 ET
  • Memphis Grizzlies vs. Denver Nuggets, 9 ET
  • Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 ET
  • Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Clippers, 10 ET
  • Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns, 10 PT

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