NBA: Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder lock up playoff spot

Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder are headed back to the playoffs. Photo / Getty Images

Steven Adams is headed back to the NBA playoffs this season, with the Oklahoma City Thunder clinching their spot in the Western Conference's top eight today without playing a game.

The Thunder had a familiar face to thank for clinching their spot on a day off, with former OKC sharpshooter James Harden and the Houston Rockets beating the Sacramento Kings to eliminate them from contention.

The Thunder secure their spot in the playoffs with six games left of the regular season and will now fight to improve their seeding before the first round.

As the conference stands, the Thunder sit in eighth place on the ladder which would see them match up with the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the first round.

However, the scenario is more than likely to change over the coming week. Of the eight teams confirmed for the playoffs in the Western Conference, the bottom four are separated by just two games in the wins column.

The Thunder join the Warriors, Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs in the post-season. Last year, the Thunder were swifty cast out of the playoffs in the first round by Utah.

In the Eastern Conference, there are still three spots up for grabs with five teams still in the running to claim them. Among them is Brooklyn Nets, of whom Kiwi Sean Marks is their General Manager, who currently hold the seventh rung on the Eastern Conference ladder.