Updated Mar. 16 West playoff standings as short-handed Thunder survive Pistons

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The Oklahoma City Thunder have a strong hold on the first seed. That's been the case for most of the season, with a double-digit game lead in the standings. There's been little drama for most of the year on whether they'll repeat as the top seed.

The Thunder returned to action with a 113-107 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Down three starters, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried a depleted OKC squad to the finish line with an efficient 48 points.

The Thunder won't have much time to enjoy that win. They're on a road back-to-back. They face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

Less than a month remains in the 2024-25 regular season. Even though the Thunder aren't involved, plenty of heated races for seeding have ramped up as the maeing for error gets thinner. Thunder Wire will conduct daily updates on the West's standings until the season ends:

What happened last night?​

Thunder 113, Pistons 107: Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points and took over in the fourth quarter to ensure the win. The Pistons struggled to keep up as Cade Cunningham was ejected in the third quarter. Detroit spent more time complaining about the referees than trying to complete a comeback.

Rockets 117, Bulls 111: The Rockets won their sixth in a row. It's been a soft part of their schedule. Jalen Green had 28 points and Alperen Sengun finished with a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double. Houston did just enough in the second half to secure the victory.

Grizzlies 125, Heat 91: The Grizzlies beat up on the Heat. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the blowout win with an efficient 31 points. Desmond Bane contributed with a near 22-point triple-double. It was a much-needed victory for Memphis to keep up with the rest of the West.

Warriors 97, Knicks 94: The Warriors remain hot with their seventh straight win. Stephen Curry's 28 points headlined the low-scoring affair. The Knicks continue to struggle without Jalen Brunson. Golden State remains one of the best teams since the trade deadline.

Wizards 126, Nuggets 123: Again? Seriously? The Wizards swept the Nuggets in their regular-season series. Two losses to a basement dweller are simply unacceptable for Denver, especially in a tight race. Nikola Jokic had 40 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, but Alex Sarr went off for 34 points on the other end. Jordan Poole scored the game-winning 3-pointer to seal the result.

Mar. 16 playoff standings​

• 1. Oklahoma City Thunder 55-12 — GB
• 2. Houston Rockets 43-25 — 12.5 GB
• 3. Denver Nuggets 43-25 — 12.5 GB
• 4. Memphis Grizzlies 43-25 — 12.5 GB
• 5. Los Angeles Lakers 40-25 — 14 GB
• 6. Golden State Warriors 39-28 — 16 GB
• 7. Minnesota Timberwolves 39-29 — 16.5 GB
• 8. LA Clippers 37-30 — 18 GB
• 9. Sacramento Kings 33-33 — 21.5 GB
• 10. Dallas Mavericks 33-35 — 22.5 GB
• 11. Phoenix Suns 31-36 — 24 GB

Notable games today​

• Sixers vs. Mavericks, 12 p.m. CT (ABC)
• Suns vs. Lakers, 2:30 p.m. CT (ABC)
• Jazz vs. Timberwolves, 6 p.m. CT
• Hornets vs. Clippers, 6 p.m. CT
• Thunder vs. Bucks, 8 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Next 3 games for the Thunder​

• Wednesday, Mar. 19 vs. Sixers
• Friday, Mar. 21 vs. Hornets
• Sunday, Mar. 23 at Clippers

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Updated Mar. 16 West playoff standings as Thunder survive Pistons

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