After ripping off 16 straight wins and looking like one of the most complete teams in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder hit a speed bump in the NBA Cup Semifinals, falling to the San Antonio Spurs. Now, they’ve got to sit with that loss for five long days before getting back on the floor.
But here’s the thing - their next opportunity isn’t just about bouncing back. It’s a chance to double up.
When the Thunder host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, it’s more than just another regular season matchup. Sure, it only counts as one win in the standings.
But for Thunder fans - and let’s be honest, for the front office too - there’s a little extra juice behind this one. Because every time OKC beats the Clippers this season, they’re not just climbing the standings.
They’re also giving a subtle nudge to the value of a very important asset: the unprotected 2026 first-round pick the Clippers owe them.
It’s a rare two-for-one scenario in the NBA. On one hand, you’ve got the Thunder, sitting near the top of the league, playing efficient, unselfish basketball, and looking every bit like a team that’s arrived ahead of schedule.
On the other, you’ve got the Clippers - a team that, after a 6-20 start, finds itself in the basement of the standings, tied with the Kings and Pacers for the league’s third-worst record. Only the Wizards and Pelicans have been worse.
And the Pelicans, who owe their own unprotected pick to Atlanta, have no reason to tank - they’ve even won two straight.
The Clippers, meanwhile, are in the middle of a freefall. Four straight losses.
Just one win in their last ten games. And the schedule isn’t doing them any favors.
After Thursday’s trip to Oklahoma City, they’ll return home to face the Lakers and Rockets - both teams with playoff aspirations - before heading to Portland and then back home for a matchup with the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. That’s a brutal five-game stretch for a team already struggling to find its footing.
So yeah, Thursday’s game matters. A lot.
For the Thunder, it’s a chance to wash away the sting of that semifinal loss and get back to doing what they’ve done better than almost anyone this season: winning. They’ll be well-rested, coming off a rare four-day break, and playing at The Paycom Center, where they’ve yet to lose this year.
The energy will be there. The motivation will be there.
And the opportunity to not just start a new win streak, but to extend another one - the Clippers’ losing streak - adds a little extra edge.
This is the kind of game that doesn’t just impact the standings today. It could shape the future.
Because every Clippers loss inches that 2026 pick closer to the top of the draft board. And every Thunder win keeps the momentum rolling for one of the league’s most exciting young teams.
So while it’s just one game on the schedule, it’s got the feel of something bigger. A win on Thursday could be the start of another run - and a reminder that in Oklahoma City, the present is bright, and the future might be even brighter.