The Thunder’s Historic Pace Hits a Bump - But This Team Isn’t Going Anywhere
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been rolling through the NBA like a freight train - fast, efficient, and nearly unstoppable. But even the best teams hit turbulence.
After a scorching 24-1 start that tied the best record through 25 games in league history, OKC has now dropped two of its last three. First came a surprising stumble against the Spurs, followed by a tough loss to the Timberwolves over the weekend.
And just like that, the early-season buzz about chasing the Warriors’ 73-win record has quieted - not disappeared, but certainly softened.
Before the Minnesota loss, oddsmakers had OKC at -188 to hit 70+ wins and +360 to break the 74-win barrier. After the weekend?
Those odds slipped to -118 and +580. That’s what happens when you’re chasing history - the margin for error is razor-thin, and every loss feels like a missed step on a tightrope walk.
Still, let’s not get it twisted: the Thunder are 26-3 and remain the most complete team in the NBA. They’re the odds-on favorite to repeat as champions, and it’s not hard to see why.
Their +16.1 point differential is absurd - it would break the all-time NBA record they set just last season. They’re fifth in offensive rating, but it’s their defense that’s redefining dominance.
The gap between their top-ranked defense and second-place Detroit is roughly the same as the gap between Detroit and the 23rd-ranked Lakers. That’s not just elite - that’s historic.
And it’s not just about the numbers. This team plays with a blend of discipline and aggression that’s rare.
They lead the league in turnover percentage, opponent turnover percentage, and points off turnovers. They’re second in both assist-to-turnover ratio and opponent points off turnovers.
That’s a recipe for winning at the highest level - and it’s no accident.
At the center of it all is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and Finals MVP, who continues to play like the most composed superstar in the league. Around him is arguably the deepest roster in the NBA.
Jalen Williams - an All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense selection last season - missed the first 19 games of the year, and OKC barely blinked. That’s how deep and well-coached this group is.
But chasing 74 wins? That’s a different animal.
To get there, OKC can only afford five more losses the rest of the way. With 53 games left, that’s a tall ask - especially with the league’s toughest remaining strength of schedule.
Let’s put that in perspective. The 2015-16 Warriors, the gold standard for regular season excellence, didn’t lose their third game until mid-January.
They only dropped two games in a three-game stretch once all season and never lost back-to-back. They won their first 24 games, had multiple long win streaks, and closed the season with four straight victories.
Their point differential? +10.8.
OKC is currently sitting at +16.1.
The Thunder opened this season with four straight wins, then rattled off 16 more before the Spurs handed them their second loss. That’s elite company.
But the Warriors also went 30-4 in clutch games that season. All three of OKC’s losses so far?
Clutch games. That tells us two things: one, the Thunder are rarely out of any game; and two, when it comes down to the wire, there’s still room to grow.
The good news? OKC isn’t a team that gets blown out.
Even when they lose, it’s a grind. That matters when you’re chasing something as precise as 74 wins.
Their depth also gives them insurance against injuries - a luxury not every contender has.
But the road ahead is no cakewalk. Of those remaining 53 games, 27 are at home - a place where OKC thrives.
They lost just eight times in their building all of last season, playoffs included. But the schedule is littered with traps.
They’ll see San Antonio again on Tuesday - the same Spurs team that already handed them a loss. Then comes a four-game road trip starting January 15 in Houston, a team that’s surely circled the date after OKC edged them in a double-overtime thriller to open the season.
Late January through mid-February is a gauntlet: at Minnesota, at Denver, home against the Magic, then a back-to-back with San Antonio, followed by games against Houston, the Lakers, and the Suns. March doesn’t get any easier - a road swing through Dallas, Chicago, New York, then a five-game trip that ends in Boston. And the season wraps with three of four on the road, including stops in L.A. (both teams) and Denver, before closing at home against Phoenix.
Most of the potential potholes are on the road or in back-to-back scenarios. And yes, at some point, they’ll drop a game at home.
It’s the NBA. It happens.
So, can they still make a run at 74? Sure.
But it’ll require near-perfection from here on out. More realistically, the Thunder are still in prime position to secure the top seed and make a serious push for back-to-back titles - a feat not seen since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
Whether or not they rewrite the win column, this OKC team has already proven it belongs in the conversation with the best we’ve seen in recent memory. And if you're trying to beat them? You better hope they’re cold, sloppy, or just plain unlucky - because otherwise, good luck.