OKC defends its league-best record during a challenging homestand against top-tier, nationally televised opponents. Will they emerge even stronger?
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a small cushion at the top of both the overall NBA league standings and the Western Conference standings. OKC is 2.5 games ahead of the Detroit Pistons for the top overall spot in the league and 3 games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for best in the West.
Now the defending champs have the opportunity to add to that cushion with an upcoming four game homestand in the friendly confines of The Paycom Center. The Thunder are a robust 25-6 when playing in Oklahoma City. While the energy that Loud City provides will give OKC a tangible advantage every night, this homestand is not going to be an easy one.
Every one of the Thunder's next four opponents has a winning record. Three of the teams have win loss records slotted in the Top 10 in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be facing off against a fellow MVP candidate in the latter three games. It's an important stretch of games in which OKC may (or may not!) finally get Ajay Mitchell and/or Jalen Williams back into the lineup.
An added extra layer of fun: every one of upcoming quartet of games in Oklahoma City is going to be nationally televised. Two ABC games, one Peacock game and one Prime Video game.
Let's take a closer look at each of Oklahoma City's opponents in this four game homestand.
Golden State Warriors on Saturday, March 7. Clearly the easiest win of the bunch. The Warriors are 32-30 and currently the #8 seed in the West. But they are also currently without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņģis. The Thunder should take care of business without much resistance from Draymond Green and his young cohorts. Though to be fair, this same ragtag Golden State bunch did just beat the Houston Rockets on the road last night.
Denver Nuggets on Monday, March 9. Here we go again. Every time these two teams meet up, it's fireworks. Two of the best teams in the league. The two best players in the league. Arguably the NBA's best rivalry. Now add a dash of the recent scuffle between Lu Dort, Nikola Jokic and Jaylin Williams. Cinema.
Boston Celtics on Thursday, March 12. The first matchup of the last two title teams. The #1 seed in the West vs the #2 seed in the East. Jaylen Brown and the Celtics have been one of the league's biggest surprises. Nobody expected them to be this good without Jayson Tatum. Even bigger shocker: Tatum may be returning in time to play this game in OKC.
Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, March 15. Rematch of the Western Conference Finals. #1 in the West vs #3 in the West. Matchup of maybe the two best guards this season in Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards. And the main event: Chris Finch vs the referees.