The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Indiana Pacers in close fashion Friday night at Paycom Center, 117-114. Isaiah Joe had a chance to tie with an open corner three, but his shot rimmed out.
Once again Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having an MVP level season. His streak of ranking in the top five of MVP voting will hit four seasons this year as he has placed fifth, second and took home his first MVP honor a year ago.
As the NBA season hits its midpoint, the race for the MVP award is as intense as ever. With Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the pack, the debate over who deserves the coveted title is heating up.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell was on pace to eclipse his career-high 28 points in a 122-102 blowout win against the Milwaukee Bucks, before an injury derailed a career night, as he was 11 points away heading into halftime.
Most NBA players, no matter how successful, are out of the league before the end of their 30s, or even their 20s. That leaves a lot of life left to live, and a good handful of players have made the most of their professional lives after leaving the court.
A year ago, this Oklahoma City Thunder team had just a handful of games where injuries significantly impacted them. There were definitely some guys who were sidelined for a bit with having to overcome some injury nuisances, but the injury bug last season did not come close to how it has infiltrated the team this season.
Oklahoma City has been the league’s best team again after winning a title, but its next matchup shows just how impressive that feat is. On Friday night, the Thunder will host the Indiana Pacers in the teams’ second matchup this season after a double-overtime thriller in the first week of the year.
It is always a tall challenge to win the NBA Finals, even for defending champions. Oklahoma City, for what it’s worth, is pushing to get back on top after winning it all last year.
One perk of dominance is that it invites imagination. At a certain level of greatness, improvement becomes optional, but obsession makes it inevitable.
The last time the Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the Indiana Pacers, the Thunder left the court with the city's first NBA championship after their Game 7 win.
Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic 40-point performance dominated the Milwaukee Bucks in a 122-102 win, but didn’t do it by himself, as veteran Lu Dort made his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
After starting their four-game road trip quite healthy, OKC’s injuries have now piled up, and it may affect their games in the coming weeks. It hasn’t been an easy year for the Thunder, who have started the year without Jalen Williams and missed some rotational players.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Indiana Pacers in a regular-season game at the Paycom Center on Friday, January 23. The Thunder secured a 122-102 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in their recent game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks had a dramatic night in their last encounter. The Thunder dominated the game and sealed a seamless 122-102 win.
Without a doubt, the Thunder are favored to claim back-to-back championships. That’s not a given, but at 36-8, it’s hard to pick anyone else. The key, of course, is good health.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in a couple of weeks. The injury interrupts another strong campaign for one of the Thunder’s key playmakers, who has been a consistent part of the team’s league-best start.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without the services of forward Jalen Williams for the next couple of weeks, the team said Monday. Williams, who has been battling a right hamstring strain, missed the game Monday, as the Thunder blasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 136-104.
This one wasn’t about excuses. It was about standards. The Cavaliers walked into a Monday matinee against the reigning champion Thunder and got a blunt reminder of what the league’s upper tier looks like right now.
Behind 30 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 28 from Chet Holmgren, the Oklahoma City Thunder (36-8) flexed its muscle in a 136-104 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers (24-20).
Thunder forward Jalen Williams suffered a right leg injury during Saturday’s loss at Miami, writes Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (subscription required).