Why Thunder were big winners after wild Clippers meltdown

The Oklahoma City Thunder turned out to be the biggest beneficiaries following the Los Angeles Clippers’ 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Wednesday’s NBA Play-In Tournament, a result that officially eliminated Los Angeles from playoff contention.

The defeat confirmed that the Clippers’ 2026 first-round pick owed to Oklahoma City will now enter the NBA Draft lottery. The selection is tied to the 2019 blockbuster trade that sent Paul George to Los Angeles and brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, draft assets, and multiple pick swaps to the Thunder.

With the Clippers eliminated, their pick is slotted at No. 12 in the lottery standings, carrying an 86.1% chance to land at No. 12 overall, along with a 6.7% chance at No. 13 and a 0.1% chance at No. 14. It also holds slim odds higher up the board, including a 1.5% chance at No. 1, 1.7% at No. 2, 1.9% at No. 3, and 2.1% at No. 4.

The pick also carries a 7.1% chance of jumping into the top four, according to lottery projections. Moreover, depending on the outcome of the Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns matchup for the final playoff seed, Oklahoma City’s positioning could slightly shift, with a 2% chance at the No. 1 pick if Golden State wins and an 11th-best odds scenario, or 1.5% with the 12th-best odds if the Warriors lose.

Los Angeles’ exit adds another valuable draft asset to the Thunder’s growing war chest. The 2026 pick swap is the final asset from the George trade, which has already produced tremendous returns for Oklahoma City, including MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and previous lottery selections such as Jalen Williams from a similar Clippers-linked pick in 2022.

The Thunder is also positioned with additional 2026 draft flexibility. Their incoming first-round selections include a Philadelphia 76ers pick that is set to convey due to playoff qualification, and a Utah Jazz pick with top-eight protection that could still shift depending on lottery outcomes and standings.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 10, with the draft set for June 23-24.

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