OKC’s NBA Cup Semis Loss is No Big Deal

But these losses mirror each other. Oklahoma City goes up big in the early parts of the game. Then, the opposing team goes nuclear in the succeeding quarters. OKC tries to answer with some impressive plays, but then commits errors down the stretch. In the end, the Thunder ended up losing by just a basket. They also get a chance to settle scores in two more games this month.

Controversial Finishes in Both Losses

Remember when social media trolled Isaiah Joe hard for having a Kevin Durant moment? Joe was stepping on the line when he attempted a three-pointer to send the Blazers game to OT. In a sense, Alex Caruso was very vocal in the outcome of the Thunder vs Spurs. Not because he had a foot on the line, but he was involved in two critical plays that would have given OKC the win.

For one, he had a clean strip on Stephon Castle in the dying seconds of the game. The officials were calling a foul on the two-time champion, but the replay showed it was a clean. The ball was going out of bounds off the Spurs, and it infuriated Caruso. In the final play, Jalen Williams intentionally missed a free throw, and Caruso went flying for the rebound.

He had a good look, but Castle seemingly pushed him out of bounds. This caused the ball to hit the board instead, ending their 16-game winning streak, and knocking OKC out of the NBA Cup as well. This loss was so controversial that even AC himself took to social media to vent out his frustrations about the calls made in that loss to San Antonio.

Does the NBA Cup Even Matter for OKC?

We would be talking differently if the Thunder lost in the final instead of the semis. It does matter in a way, considering that the loss counts towards the season record. OKC suffered its second loss of the season, and its streak ended on a tough note. On top of that, the Thunder lose their shot at extra incentives for their players with a prize for the final winner.

But hey, players on the losing team in the semis would still get $102,994 each. That’s still a good amount. And on the bright side, OKC isn’t playing an extra game for money that also has no bearing in the regular season. This avoids potential injuries to key players such as Holmgren, J-Dub, or even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The fact that they are still on pace for a 77-5 record is still staggering. OKC is 24-2 right now, even with the NBA Cup defeat. It does seem that they can end December without a few more hiccups. They are winning games by a mile, so getting some competitive finishes is a good thing for the team as well.

To sum it up, OKC losing in the NBA Cup isn’t much of a big deal as most people think. In fact, the loss is saving the Thunder time and an extra game to play. In the long run, they may even be in a better position to keep on winning with more motivation.

Remember, the last time OKC failed in the NBA Cup, they would go on to win the NBA Finals. Think of that as a much bigger reward the Thunder is aiming for by the end of the season. No need to panic, Thunder fans.