Only four teams in NBA history have started the season with a record of 20-1 or better. All three teams made it to the finals; two of them won it all. The Oklahoma City Thunder are now the fourth team to hit that mark after their 123-115 victory over the Portland Blazers – the only arena the Thunder has lost a game in all season. That finals history is a strong trend as Oklahoma City looks to become the first team since 2019 to win back-to-back NBA Championships. And they’re off to a strong start defending their title.

It wasn’t an easy win, as things looked to spell the team’s second loss at Moda Center this season as the Blazers fought back to keep it within a one-point margin several times in the fourth quarter. On a night where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was struggling against Portland’s defense, he found grit and the reigning MVP showed how clutch he truly can be. He scored 10 points and went 4-of-5 shooting from the field in the final four minutes of the contest.

Here is the full story from Thunder Roundtable writer Braxton Reynolds on Alexander and the ice in his veins he showed to close this win out.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Clutch Performance Saved Thunder Trailing and struggling, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ignited a late-game surge, securing a vital win and reinforcing his Clutch Player of the Year case.

As Oklahoma City look to get back to a title run, they do so with a league-best defense allowing 106.7 points per game, a league-leading 15.4-point differential in 21 contests, and the third-most points per game (122.2). Gilgeous-Alexander is second only to Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic in points scored per game (32.5), while Cason Wallace leads the league with an average 2.2 steals.

That’s a well-rounded effort that illustrates the best record in the NBA, and they now have won at every stadium they’ve entered this season. As they head back on the road to California to take on the Golden State Warriors, they do so with well-earned momentum.