The Oklahoma City Thunder are 54-12 through 66 games on the season.
The club has clinched their 12th playoff berth since their arrival in Oklahoma City in 2008. They've done so with a 12-game lead in the Western Conference, too.
With such a comfortable lead as the top seed in the West, the Thunder recently let their key players have a game off against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Thunder still managed to secure a victory behind a brilliant performance from Aaron Wiggins.
Oklahoma City has been among the top squads in the entire league this season, and the rest was well-deserved for the team's starting lineup.
In fact, the NBA recently announced they are investigating the Thunder for their resting of key players.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
NBA launches investigation on Thunder decision
ESPN's Shams Charania reported the NBA's decision to investigate the club after the decision to rest their main talents.
"The NBA is investigating the Oklahoma City Thunder for potentially violating league's player participation policy, sources tell ESPN. Game under review is OKC's March 7 win over Portland in which Thunder starting 5 (Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Holmgren, Dort, Hartenstein) sat," Charania reported.
The NBA is investigating the Oklahoma City Thunder for potentially violating league's player participation policy, sources tell ESPN. Game under review is OKC's March 7 win over Portland in which Thunder starting 5 (Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Holmgren, Dort, Hartenstein) sat.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 15, 2025
Given the emergence of players resting during games and taking games off without having an injury in recent years, the league no longer allows players to just rest.
The league wants their top talents playing on a consistent basis, which is why their player participation policy is being followed so strictly.
This is a small bump in the road for the Thunder, as they'll cooperate with the league and move on from the situation entirely.
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This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 6:58 PM.