Oklahoma City Thunder continues to make history and threatens to sweep Las Vegas

The big question for the Oklahoma City Thunder is not just how much they can win, but how they will deal with the distractions that come with a team that is on the brink of historical excellence. The current champions are experiencing another exceptional start to the season, matching the best record after 25 games in NBA history.

Their qualification for Las Vegas in the NBA Cup came after a resounding 138-89 victory against the Phoenix Suns at the Paycom Center, in a game that ended up being the Suns' biggest defeat and the largest margin throughout the season. For the Thunder, however, these kinds of lopsided victories are part of a routine that has led them to a 24-1 record, a feat only previously achieved by the Golden State Warriors in 2015-16.

Throughout the season, the Thunder have been beating their opponents by an average of 17.4 points, a difference that puts them on track to break the +12.9 differential they established last season. They have already secured seventeen double-digit wins, showcasing the solidity they are exhibiting on all fronts.

Jalen Williams recalls that things were not always so easy in the past: "Winning never gets boring. There was a time when some players on the team were getting beaten up," he said, referring to that 73-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in December 2021. "I think many of us still have that in mind. Even in my first year, we weren't winning much; we were competitive, but I keep that in mind. And you can't get bored of the process."

That mentality has been key to avoid relaxation. In fact, forcing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to play in the fourth quarter has become a small achievement for opponents. Against the Suns, it was not necessary: he scored 28 points in 27 minutes and left the game, along with the other starters, with over three minutes remaining in the third period. At that point, the Thunder were leading by 41 points, a lead that grew to 53 in the final stretch.

Coach Mark Daigneault praised the team's focus: "I think we had good mental strength tonight. It's hard to play with big leads. It's tricky not to get distracted by the score," he stated. "The group that started the third quarter went out and made the first punch, and that energy was sustained. Then the fourth-quarter group did a great job of focusing on the next possession. That's how habits are built. You can step back in games like these even if you end up winning."

The Thunder hold a 72-10 record in their last 82 regular-season games, with a cumulative differential of 1,189 points, the best in any equivalent stretch in league history. With numbers like these, it's inevitable that talk of the Warriors' 73-win record arises, although within the team, it's seen as a topic that could distract from what's important.

The victory over the Suns marked the Thunder's sixteenth consecutive win, the longest streak in franchise history. However, Daigneault prefers to focus only on the present: "We are not focused on the streak. You have to play the next possession, improve the next day, win the next quarter, and compete in the next game. If you do that, sometimes you look back and see a streak. But we must understand that we still have a lot to improve and several challenges ahead."

Thunder's Madness

The coach is not afraid of complacency because the group has already demonstrated the level of commitment needed to handle this kind of pressure. He also points out that much of the team is still in a stage of growth and development, including Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Chet Holmgren.

Several players emphasize that the priority is to stay connected to the present and not get carried away by what they have already achieved or what they could accomplish. Holmgren summed it up: "I would say it all starts with the standard we have. It continues with the mutual respect we have and the enjoyment of doing this together. And it ends with trying to learn from every experience, good or bad, close game or blowout. We just try to keep learning, keep improving, and have fun while doing it."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Oklahoma City Thunder sigue haciendo historia y amenazan con arrasar Las Vegas