Thunder Receive Good News After Clippers' Play-In Loss To Warriors
The defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, continue to find ways to win, even off the court. The team secured a valuable unprotected lottery pick from the Los Angeles Clippers following their playoff elimination on Wednesday night.
The Clippers fell 126–121 to the Golden State Warriors in the Play-In Tournament, courtesy of a 35-point performance from Stephen Curry. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard was effectively contained by Draymond Green, officially ending Los Angeles' season and, in the process, handing Oklahoma City a valuable unprotected draft asset.
The Thunder hold the right to a 2026 pick swap with the Clippers and will now have the 11th-best odds (2%) of landing the top pick if Golden State defeats Phoenix to claim the No. 8 seed. If the Warriors lose, those odds drop slightly to 1.5%, the 12th-best.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will receive a 2026 lottery pick from the Los Angeles Clippers.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) April 16, 2026
The pick is currently in the #12 spot with a 7.1% chance to move into the top 4.
If the Warriors beat the Suns, the pick could move up to #11 and a 9.4% chance to move up.
This also marks the final piece of the 2019 Paul George trade for the Clippers, with the lottery pick heading to Oklahoma City in June. Notably, Los Angeles still owes the Thunder another pick stemming from the James Harden deal, meaning the impact of those trades will continue into next year.
In another Play-In game on Wednesday, the Thunder received less favorable news. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic 109–97, led by Tyrese Maxey, who recorded 31 points, six assists, and one steal and block each.
Oklahoma City owns Philadelphia's 2026 first-round pick from the 2020 trade involving Al Horford. However, with the Sixers' win, the Thunder lost their chance at a lottery selection. Philadelphia has now secured the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, ensuring their pick will fall outside the top 14.
The 76ers will face the Boston Celtics in the first round, with their pick projected to land at either No. 17 or No. 18, depending on the remainder of the Play-In results.
The NBA Draft is set for May 10 and features a loaded class of prospects, including Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Caleb Wilson. With multiple first-round picks in 2026, the Thunder remain well-positioned to continue building toward a potential dynasty.
Oklahoma City finished the regular season with an NBA-best 64–18 record and holds home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Their first-round matchup is set to begin Sunday against the winner of the Suns–Warriors Play-In game.
Related: Thunder Star Chet Holmgren Makes NBA History in Clippers Game
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 4:07 AM.