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Thunder clinch No. 1 seed in the West, NBA's best overall record for second straight season

The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter 2025-26 NBA playoffs as the No. 1 team in the Western Conference and the team with the overall record in the league after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

It's the first time in franchise history that the Thunder has won at least 60 games in consecutive seasons. They are also one of two teams -- along with the Boston Celtics -- to achieve the feat since the Golden State Warriors from 2015-17.

It's the second straight year the Thunder have been the NBA's most dominant team. Last season, OKC finished 68-14 and went on to win the NBA title for the first time in franchise history. The last team to post the best record in the NBA in back-to-back seasons was the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019 and 2020.

The Thunder began the 2025-26 season 8-0, then had a 16-game winning streak heading into mid-December. They've now won 19 out of their last 20 games dating back to Feb. 25.

When the NBA postseason begins, the Thunder will play one of the two West play-in winners.

The Thunder has once again been led by reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is set to finish the regular season averaging at least 30 points per game for the fourth straight year. He's currently at 31.1through 68 games.

OKC will wrap up the regular season on Friday at the Denver Nuggets and Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.

Alex Ovechkin says he will make a decision on his future in the summer

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 02: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals warms up before a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 2, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.  (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 02: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals warms up before a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 2, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Alex Ovechkin says that he has yet to make a decision about his future and will do so in the summer.

In a teaser for a conversation airing Wednesday night with Washington Capitals radio announcer John Walton, the franchise’s captain said that he will speak with his family and team executives, including owner Ted Leonsis, before deciding what to do next.

The Capitals have four games remaining in the regular season and currently sit five points out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot. Ovechkin is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the season.

Alex Ovechkin sat down with John Walton to discuss his plans to take time after the season to reflect and consult with his family before determining his future this summer.

Catch their full conversation tonight on Caps Pregame Live on @MonSportsNetpic.twitter.com/J9jAKL5HJE

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 8, 2026

Ovechkin will turn 41 in September and has been remarkably durable throughout his career, only playing fewer than 70 games during the regular season three times over his 21-year NHL season He noted that his health will play a factor in his decision. “You just have to be smart about it,” he said.

Last April, Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with his 895th goal, breaking a tie with Wayne Gretzky. He’s followed up that record-breaking feat with his 20th season of at least 30 goals in 2025-26.

Earlier this season, Ovechkn became the first NHL player to ever reach the 900-goal mark. He now has 928 in his NHL career to go along with nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies as the regular season's top goal scorer, eight NHL First-Team All-Star Honors, and three Hart Memorial Trophies as league MVP, among numerous other awards, including a Stanley Cup title and playoff MVP in 2018.

Ovechkin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft, is 10th all-time in league history in points with 1,684 over 1,569 regular-season games.

"When you love something, you do it with heart," Ovechkin said. "Obviously, I love playing hockey, I love scoring goals."

Chicago Bears HoFer Steve McMichael diagnosed with CTE year after death

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 08:  Detail view of a 76 graphic honoring Steve McMichael prior to an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears at Solider Field on September 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois . (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
A detailed view of a 76 graphic honoring Steve McMichael prior to a game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears at Solider Field on Sept. 8, 2025, in Chicago.
Perry Knotts via Getty Images

Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael has been diagnosed with Stage 3 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

McMichael, who died last year at age 67 following a five-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was part of the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl-winning team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

A degenerative brain disease, CTE has often been found in those who played contact sports, such as football, and others who have experience repetitive head trauma. It’s known to cause cognitive decline, depression and violent mood swings. It can only be diagnosed after death.

While he was still alive, McMichael pledged to donate his brain.

“By sharing Steve’s diagnosis, we want to raise awareness of the clear connection between CTE and ALS,” said McMichael’s wife, Misty, in a statement. “Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death. I donated Steve’s brain to inspire new research into the link between them.”

NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS compared to the general male population, according to a 2021 study led by Harvard Medical School and the Boston University CTE Center researchers.

McMichael, who was also known as Mongo, was a five-time All-Pro who played 13 of his 15 NFL seasons for the Bears. He was a key member as a first-team All-Pro for the famed 1985 Bears defense that anchored the franchise's only run to a Super Bowl championship.

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