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NBA Reacts to Historic Record by Thunder Amid Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 8, 2025 12:35 AM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder are mostly known by NBA fans for their ferocious defense. They ranked first in defensive rating during the regular season, and it played a big role in them notching the league's best record at 68-14.

But they aren't too shabby on the offensive end either. In fact, in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series versus the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, they did something no team had ever done on that end of the floor.

They scored 87 points in the first half, which set a new playoff record for the most points in a half. As a result, they took a 31-point lead into the third quarter.

The NBA highlighted this new record on its official X account and made it clear it was blown away with its choice of emoji.

OKC JUST DROPPED 87 IN THE 1ST HALF

The MOST points in a half in the postseason in the play-by-play era (1997-98) pic.twitter.com/taNwfzC5vP
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2025

The previous record was held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who established it by scoring 86 points in the first half of Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder had lost Game 1 on Monday after leading by as many as 14 points. They were up 115-106 with three minutes left, only to give up eight unanswered points. Aaron Gordon hit the game-winning 3-pointer just before time expired after big man Chet Holmgren missed two free throws with 9.1 seconds left.

It is safe to say they came out with a vengeance to start Game 2. They led 45-21 at the end of the first quarter and have managed to hold Denver's explosive offense and transition game in check as they look to tie the series.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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