Oklahoma City eyes 65 wins. Can the Thunder join NBA royalty by winning four of its final five games?
The Thunder moved to a 61-16 record after utterly embarrassing the Lakers, so Oklahoma City needs to win four of its final five games to reach 65 wins. Why would this accomplishment matter? Only two franchises in NBA history have won at least 65 games in consecutive seasons: the Bulls (1996, 1997) and the Warriors (2015, 2016, 2017).
They are widely considered to be the two greatest teams the league has ever seen, so it would be a tremendous achievement if Oklahoma City joins them. The reigning champs have a decent chance of pulling it off because their remaining games are not incredibly difficult.
Vs. Jazz on April 5: Utah has won nine games since Jan. 1 and ranks 28th in net rating during this stretch. The team is actively trying to lose games to improve its chances of getting a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Meanwhile, the champs are at home and coming off two full days of rest. This game may be over by halftime.
At Lakers on April 7: Luka Dončić is out indefinitely with a hamstring strain, so Los Angeles will be without its top scorer and playmaker. The Lakers also do not match up well against hyper-athletic teams who pressure the rim like the Thunder. Expect another blowout with Dončić sidelined.
At Clippers on April 8: There is real danger for the champs here. They are on the road and own a 6-7 record on the second night of back-to-backs this season. Los Angeles is also 12th in net rating since the All-Star break thanks to Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland. They have combined to average 48.8 points and 10 assists per game on 64.4% true shooting since the break.
At Nuggets on April 10: It’s yet another tough game for Oklahoma City. Facing Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets while dealing with the altitude in Denver is no joke, and there’s also a chance that the champs have clinched the one seed at this point. Mark Daigneault may sit key players in order to get some rest before the playoffs and prevent the Thunder from potentially tipping its hand regarding strategy and experimental ideas.
Vs. Suns on April 12: Basketball Reference currently gives Phoenix a 94.7% chance of finishing the regular season with the seventh seed, so it’s very likely that the Suns lock up this seed soon. Oklahoma City also probably rests players in this matchup, which means the Thunder’s final game may be a battle between reserves. The champs have the better bench, but anything can happen when starters do not play.