The Oklahoma City Thunder are firing on all cylinders. Fresh off last season’s championship, the franchise has surged to a 17-1 start, including a nine-game winning streak, the best active run in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable, dropping 37 points in what felt like just another day at the office.
Eighteen days after falling to the Portland Trail Blazers on November 6, the Thunder finally had their revenge. And they did it in style. By the start of the second quarter, OKC had built a 25-point lead (43-18), cruising to a 112-95 victory and showcasing why they are serious contenders to repeat as NBA champions.
The Thunder’s incredible start in context
OKC’s 17-1 start puts them in elite company. Only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who began 24-0 on their way to a 73-9 season, have ever had a hotter start. The Thunder are showing they can reach similar heights if they keep rolling at this pace.
OKC: A team clicking on all cylinders
When the Thunder’s machine runs smoothly, it is nearly impossible to stop. With perfectly aligned gears, OKC has turned its defense into near perfection while its offense steamrolls opponents. Every team has succumbed to their dominance this season, except for that heroic Blazers team back in early November.
The Thunder are not just winning; they are dominating. They are scoring over 100 points in every game, allowing just 102.8 points per 100 possessions, and holding an overall rating of +16.9. Their average margin of victory? A staggering 22.3 points. Even their closest win came by 13 points.
Setting the pace in the NBA
In the Eastern Conference, only the Detroit Pistons (14-2) are keeping pace. The Lakers and Nuggets are trailing with four losses each, already a step behind OKC’s relentless start.
And the Thunder are doing all of this without Jalen Williams, their second or third option behind Shai. Williams has yet to make his season debut due to a wrist injury, making the team’s dominance even more remarkable.
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Oklahoma City Thunder
Stats
23
Brooks Barnhizer
15
Branden Carlson
9
Alex Caruso
13
Ousmane Dieng
5
Luguentz Dort
2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
55
Isaiah Hartenstein
7
Chet Holmgren
11
Isaiah Joe
25
Ajay Mitchell
22
Cason Wallace
6
Jaylin Williams
3
Chris Youngblood
Stats
Min
Pts
TR
OR
DR
Ast
Los
Rec
Blk
S1
S2
S3
RF
CF
Val
23
Brooks Barnhizer
8
5
3
1
2
1
1
0
0
0/0
1/2
1/1
0
0
0
15
Branden Carlson
8
8
1
0
1
2
0
0
1
0/0
1/1
2/3
0
0
0
9
Alex Caruso
14
5
2
1
1
3
0
1
0
0/0
1/2
1/1
0
3
0
13
Ousmane Dieng
14
8
2
0
2
1
0
0
0
0/0
1/2
2/3
0
2
0
5
Luguentz Dort
20
5
3
1
2
0
0
1
0
0/0
1/1
1/5
0
4
0
2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
30
37
5
2
3
7
1
2
0
9/9
11/15
2/3
0
3
0
55
Isaiah Hartenstein
22
7
15
3
12
3
2
0
3
1/2
3/9
0/0
0
2
0
7
Chet Holmgren
25
5
9
2
7
4
3
0
3
1/2
2/5
0/3
0
2
0
11
Isaiah Joe
23
10
2
0
2
1
2
1
1
2/2
1/1
2/6
0
1
0
25
Ajay Mitchell
23
20
1
0
1
4
2
2
0
2/4
6/6
2/2
0
1
0
22
Cason Wallace
26
7
2
2
0
1
1
2
0
0/0
2/4
1/5
0
1
0
6
Jaylin Williams
14
5
2
0
2
4
1
0
0
2/4
0/1
1/2
0
4
0
3
Chris Youngblood
8
0
2
0
2
2
1
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/2
0
0
0
Portland Trail Blazers
Stats
8
Deni Avdija
33
Toumani Camara
91
Sidy Cissoko
23
Donovan Clingan
18
Javonte Cooke
9
Jerami Grant
16
Yang Hansen
2
Caleb Love
24
Kris Murray
26
Duop Reath
21
Rayan Rupert
Stats
Min
Pts
TR
OR
DR
Ast
Los
Rec
Blk
S1
S2
S3
RF
CF
Val
8
Deni Avdija
23
11
5
1
4
1
2
1
0
2/3
3/8
1/8
0
2
0
33
Toumani Camara
26
4
6
4
2
3
1
2
1
0/0
2/3
0/3
0
3
0
91
Sidy Cissoko
26
7
2
1
1
3
1
0
0
0/1
2/4
1/3
0
1
0
23
Donovan Clingan
19
8
8
2
6
2
2
0
2
2/4
0/1
2/4
0
5
0
18
Javonte Cooke
13
3
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0/0
0/1
1/2
0
0
0
9
Jerami Grant
24
21
3
1
2
2
4
1
0
6/6
3/4
3/4
0
2
0
16
Yang Hansen
17
8
4
0
4
3
0
0
1
1/1
2/5
1/6
0
1
0
2
Caleb Love
25
8
2
1
1
2
2
0
0
1/2
2/5
1/8
0
1
0
24
Kris Murray
27
9
7
5
2
0
1
1
0
3/4
3/6
0/3
0
2
0
26
Duop Reath
19
6
3
1
2
0
0
2
0
0/0
3/3
0/4
0
1
0
21
Rayan Rupert
15
10
5
0
5
0
2
1
0
0/0
2/5
2/2
0
1
0