CSN Bay Area

OAKLAND -– Not since 1977 have the Warriors gone to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. That changed Monday night.

And it changed while they were facing the Lakers at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors earned their third straight trip to the postseason when the Oklahoma City Thunder took a 119-115 loss to the Mavericks in Dallas less than an hour after the Warriors tipped off against Los Angeles.

By beating the Thunder three times in four games, the Warriors gained the tie-breaker against OKC, which can't finish with more than 52 wins. The Warriors entered the game Monday night with 52 wins.