What happened
ESPN flagged that the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are 6-0 through the early rounds of the 2026 playoffs, sweeping their opening series and carrying that momentum into the next round. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have anchored the run on both ends of the floor.
Why it matters
An undefeated start to a title defense is rare air and reinforces what the regular season already suggested: the Thunder entered the postseason with the NBA's best record and are pressing that edge into the bracket. With Gilgeous-Alexander already named 2025-26 Clutch Player of the Year, OKC's late-game execution is translating from the regular season to higher-leverage playoff possessions.
What to watch
Watch whether OKC can carry the 6-0 mark deeper into the bracket without dropping a game, and whether Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams sustain their two-way load as competition stiffens.