The Thunder shot out to a 23-point first quarter lead versus the Lakers and never looked back. It was one of the biggest statement wins of the entire season, and the pummeling produced three potential consequences regarding awards and the postseason bracket. 

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists during the smackdown, and Oklahoma City was +35 during his 29 minutes. He also became eligible for awards officially since it was his 65th game of the season. 

The MVP race is over. There are no holes in his case. He’s recording the second-highest true shooting percentage and the fewest turnovers per game among all seasons in NBA history where a player averaged at least 30 points per game. Gilgeous-Alexander shattered Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 20-point streak, he leads the league in total clutch points and Oklahoma City currently has 61 wins despite dealing with significant injuries all season. 

Victor Wembanyama will claim the award eventually, but it’s not his year. The Spurs winning by 19 points without Wembanyama against a Clippers squad that was 28-16 since Jan. 1 entering their matchup last night did not help his case, either. It reminded fans and voters how good San Antonio is as a team while increasing the massive minutes gap between Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama. 

Entering last night’s contest, Basketball Reference gave the Lakers an 85.5% chance to finish the regular season with the three seed. It was a logical projection because Los Angeles had two fewer losses than Denver and clinched the tiebreaker. 

However, the three seed is in jeopardy with Luka Dončić sidelined. He hurt his hamstring against Oklahoma City, and ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that “Dončić will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the extent of his left hamstring injury.” 

He will probably be out for at least a week if it’s a Grade 1 strain (the likely best case scenario), and Los Angeles’ final regular season game is April 12. Maybe he returns for this contest? 

Dallas, Oklahoma City, Golden State, Phoenix and Utah are Los Angeles’ remaining games. It’s a soft schedule, especially since the Suns could rest its starters with the seventh seed potentially locked up. But it won’t be easy to win games without Dončić no matter the competition. 

Let’s say the Lakers win two of its five remaining games. This means Denver would need to win four of its final five games to claim the three seed, and the Nuggets’ schedule is brutal. Nikola Jokić and company face San Antonio, Portland, Memphis, Oklahoma City and San Antonio again. 

If Denver manages to beat San Antonio this Saturday, then it would potentially lead to Oklahoma City clinching the one seed earlier than expected. Why does this matter? The Nuggets’ final two games could subsequently come against teams that are resting their starters because the top two seeds are cemented. 

Overall, the Nuggets and Lakers both have five games left, and Denver needs to finish with two more wins than the Lakers during this stretch in order to secure the three seed. 

This scenario is ideal for the reigning champs because San Antonio and Denver would both be on the other side of the bracket. Plus, it’s becoming more likely that Minnesota gets the sixth seed, so it could knock the Nuggets out of the playoffs. 

Thunder fans should be rooting hard for Jokić to defeat Wembanyama tomorrow. 

Players must play at least 63 games with 20+ minutes and another two games with 15+ minutes to qualify for accolades like MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA. The rule is highly unpopular on social media, and it’s a safe assumption to believe that players also despite it.  

If the rule winds up being abolished, then the events that occurred on April 2 will be the reason. 

First, Detroit announced that Cade Cunningham will remain sidelined for at least another week, thus making him ineligible for accolades. Next, Anthony Edwards missed Minnesota’s game against Detroit and also became ineligible. Finally, Dončić has only played 64 games and will therefore be ineligible if he misses the Lakers’ final five games due to his hamstring injury. 

Jokić, Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Maxey and Devin Booker are also not at the threshold yet, although they still have time to qualify. 

Overall, the 2026 All-NBA teams could look extremely foolish because of the 65-game rule and lead to the rule being scrapped by the league.