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Thunder Sweep Suns, Secure Third Consecutive First-Round Sweep

4/28/2026

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Summary

Thunder Sweep Suns

Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0, winning Game 4 131-122 to reach the 2026 conference semifinals.
The sweep is the Thunder’s third straight first-round sweep (2024-2026), joining the Lakers, Bulls and Cavaliers and making them the first team since the 2017-19 Warriors to sweep a playoff round three years in a row.
Coach Mark Daigneault warned a sweep guarantees nothing and that the Lakers can force a Game 5 on April 29.

Summary

Suns Trade

The Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Rockets and waived Bradley Beal.
The moves helped the team improve by nine wins to a 45-37 record.
Jordan Ott’s first-year coaching made Phoenix the league’s second-most improved defense, cutting opponents’ points per 100 possessions by 4.8.
Dillon Brooks, acquired in the Durant trade, scored a career-high 23 points in Game 4, earning Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s praise.

History

Historical Context

The Warriors’ 2017 playoffs, where they swept Portland, Utah and San Antonio to begin 12-0 and finish 16-1, set a new standard for postseason dominance. Their 2016 signing of Kevin Durant formed a ‘super-team’ that reshaped league roster building, prompting other franchises to prioritize depth and defensive upgrades through the 2020s.

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Thunder Sweep Suns

Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0, winning Game 4 131-122 to reach the 2026 conference semifinals.
The sweep is the Thunder’s third straight first-round sweep (2024-2026), joining the Lakers, Bulls and Cavaliers and making them the first team since the 2017-19 Warriors to sweep a playoff round three years in a row.
Coach Mark Daigneault warned a sweep guarantees nothing and that the Lakers can force a Game 5 on April 29.

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