Tag Archives: Aaron Wiggins

San Antonio Spurs vs. Thunder preview (Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals)

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  • #2 San Antonio Spurs (8-3) vs. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder (8-0)
  • When: Monday, 18 May 2026 at 7:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: NBC/Peacock
  • Playoff Offensive Rating (of the remaining playoff teams): SAS: 117.3 (3rd) / OKC: 126.3 (1st)
  • Playoff Defensive Rating (of the remaining playoff teams): SAS: 102.2 (1st) / OKC: 109.3 (3rd)
  • Playoff Net Rating (of the remaining playoff teams): SAS: 15.2 (3rd) / OKC: 17.0 (2nd)
  • Series Record: 0-0

The Tip-Off

Inevitabilities in life: taxes, death, and the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs meeting in the 2026 Western Conference Finals. These two freight trains have been on a collision course since it became evident that San Antonio had jumped into a Mario warp pipe and skipped from level 2 to level 8 on the development curve. Having a generational talent like Victor Wembanyama will allow you to do that. Then came the five meetings this year between these two teams and the narrative that San Antonio is probably the best equipped team to knock off the champs in the playoff series, and you get to where we are now. First to four for Western Conference supremacy and a trip to the NBA Finals. ANNNNDDD….it’s on NBC. Cue the music, John Tesh.

Season Series

Game 1 – Dec. 13th (San Antonio won 111-109) – This was the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, NV. A back and forth affair in the 4th quarter. San Antonio hit just enough more shots late in the game to keep OKC at bay and hold on to a 2-point victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points and 5 assists, but also had 5 turnovers and shot 1-7 from deep. San Antonio, on the over hand, had four players with at least 22 points, led by Devin Vessell.

Game 2 – Dec. 23rd (San Antonio won 130-110) – OKC held a 2-point lead at halftime and then proceeded to get blown out 72-50 in the 2nd half. The Spurs were the aggressors, as evidenced by the disparity in free throw attempts (24-7), forced turnovers (15-9), and points in the paint (60-48). SGA led the way again with 33 points, with Jalen Williams chipping in with 17 points. San Antonio was led by Keldon Johnson (25 points) and Steph Castle (24 points).

Game 3 – Dec. 25th (San Antonio won 117-102) – Definitely, the “oh shit” moment for the Thunder. OKC finally got a Christmas game at home and came out and laid an egg against the Spurs. OKC shot 39% from the field and struggled to consistently get stops on the defensive end. The flashpoint in this game was Alex Caruso shooting 2-12 from deep (but starting off 0-9 before finally seeing one go through late in the 3rd quarter). De’Aaron Fox led the way for San Antonio with 29 points with Wembanyama contributing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. SGA scored 22 points on 7/19 shooting, while Isaiah Hartenstein had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Game 4 – Jan. 13th (OKC won 119-98) – The “get back” game for the Thunder. Were more the aggressors in this one, holding San Antonio to 40% shooting from the field and winning the points in the paint battle, 56-40. OKC used a huge third quarter that saw them turn a 3-point halftime lead into a 19-point lead heading into the fourth. OKC was led by SGA with 34 points and Dub with 20 points. Steph Castle had 20 points and Wemby had 17 and 7 for the Spurs.

Game 5 – Feb. 4th (San Antonio won 116-106) – The “scheduled loss” game for OKC. Second night of a back to back. Third game in four nights. And, with four previous games against the Spurs, the team probably saw this as an opportunity to see if there was something unconventional that could be discovered in this game. What many thought would be a blow-out going away turned into a very competitive game that saw the Spurs starters play until the last minute of the game. OKC was led by Kenrich Williams (25 points and 9 rebounds), Jaylin Williams (24 points and 12 rebounds), and Aaron Wiggins (20 points). The Spurs were led by Keldon Johnson (25 points) and Wembanyama (22 points and 14 rebounds).

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -6.5
  • O/U: 221.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)

SAS

  • De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (ankle)
  • Luke Kornet – Questionable (foot)

Five Big Things

  1. Healthy J-Dub – One of the biggest X-factors for OKC is whether they’ll get a healthy Jalen Williams for the series. In the regular season games, Williams played in the four consequential games for OKC but was never fully healthy. He was still recovering from his offseason wrist surgery and was working his way back during all four of those Spurs games. In that quartet of games, Dub averaged 16.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 turnovers, and 2.5 steals with 44/36/67 shooting splits. While those numbers look okay, they pale in comparison to what an healthy, efficient Dub stat-line would look like. If San Antonio is going to put full effort into stopping SGA, having a healthy Dub is necessary for OKC to continuously pressure the Spurs defense.
  2. Chet’s mindset – For a player that was an All-Star and will likely be on one of the All-NBA teams, Holmgren’s four games against San Antonio were as forgettable as they come. The Thunder big man averaged 10.5 points and 8 rebounds on 39/20/80 shooting splits. For OKC to be successful in this series, they need Holmgren to be effective out there. Someone that makes San Antonio pay as a release valve and someone the Spurs needs to pay attention to. Too many times in those four San Antonio games, Holmgren was just a body out there, allowing the Spurs to load up in the paint and forcing OKC to be primarily a jump-shooting team. He doesn’t necessarily need to win every battle against Wembanyama, but he does need leave his imprint on every game.
  3. Ajay Mitchell – Mitchell played in only one of the five games against San Antonio this season. Ironically, it was the game where OKC won. As Mitchell’s star has grown throughout these playoffs, he becomes the unknown factor in this series against the Spurs. Being that secondary/tertiary ball-handler is something OKC did not have in most of the games against San Antonio this season and something the Spurs haven’t seen a ton of in these playoffs. Portland plays similarly to OKC with Deni Avdija being the offensive engine, but Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday aren’t necessarily on the level of Dub and Ajay Mitchell. Minnesota had an Anthony Edwards at about 80% and Ayo Dosunmu and Julius Randle, two players who are primarily attackers and not play-makers.
  4. Jared McCain – Can McCain play in this series? He’d definitely be a weapon as a floor spacer, but can he hang defensively with San Antonio’s guard attack. Is it a short leash situation where if the shot is falling, you take the defensive liability? McCain was obtained on February 3rd and didn’t play in the final meeting of the season between OKC and the Spurs. Like Mitchell, could McCain’s addition into the rotation provide a look the Spurs haven’t seen before from OKC?
  5. Turning Castle over – If there is a guard the Thunder could target with defensive pressure, it could be Steph Castle. The 2nd-year guard is averaging 3.1 turnovers per game in the playoffs, which is most on the team. His physicality lends itself to committing offensive fouls and being a bit careless with the ball at times. If the Thunder want to infuse any of their DNA into this series, it’s going to start on the defensive end with turning turnovers into points. They are first in the league this postseason in that category, scoring 22.9 points per game off turnovers.

Thunder @ Phoenix Suns preview (Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals)

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  • #1 Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) @ #8 Phoenix Suns (0-3)
  • When: Monday, 27 April 2026 at 8:30pm CST
  • Where: Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
  • TV: Peacock
  • Series Record: OKC leads 3-0

The Tip-Off

The Slog. It’s what I like to call Game 4’s the Oklahoma City Thunder are involved in. Over the last two postseasons prior to this year’s, the Thunder have gone 6-0 in Game 4’s. But the average margin of victory in those games was just 4.7 points, with the largest margin of victory being 8 points. Two of those games were decided by just two points (against Memphis and Minnesota). In three of those series (against Dallas, Denver, and Indiana), the Thunder were facing a 2-1 series deficit and NEEDED Game 4 to even the series. The one constant in all of those games has been the performance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In the six Game 4’s from the last two postseasons, SGA has averaged 32.7 points on 47% shooting from the field, 6.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1 block.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -11.5
  • O/U: 214.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring)

PHX

  • Jordan Goodwin – Questionable (calf)
  • Mark Williams – OUT (foot)

Three Big Things

  1. Next Man Up – With Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe both missing Game 3, the “next man up” mentality shifted over to Aaron Wiggins and Jared McCain both getting significant playoff minutes. And each played their role well. McCain came into the game and played that hybrid “Isaiah Joe/Ajay Mitchell” role and scored 7 quick points in the second quarter. Wiggins played 11 minutes, and while there was anything spectacular about his performance, he was a +8 in the game during that time. This is a testament to coach Mark Daigneault and his insistence on keeping players ready throughout the regular season.
  2. Chet Holmgren – Phoenix is still without Mark Williams, and while Oso Ighodaro had a good bounce-back game in Game 3, the center position is still a point of weakness in the Suns’ lineup. Holmgren struggled a little on offense in that game, especially with the absence of Dub, who opens up so many opportunities for Holmgren in the halfcourt. I think we a little more big to big action in this game to exploit Phoenix’s size deficiency.
  3. Just Get It Done – As we’ve seen in the early going of these playoffs, the postseason eventually turns into a war of attrition. Last postseason, we saw injuries to Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Aaron Gordon, and to a lesser extend, Dub and Chet, all have effects on their teams’ playoff performances. This postseason, we’ve seen Donte DiVencenzo and Anthony Edwards both go down with serious injuries within minutes of each other. Victor Wembanyama was concussed for a game and a half. Peyton Watson, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have yet to play a game in the playoffs. Kevin Durant has only played in one game. And Gordon and Dub are back dealing with soft tissue injuries. The less time you need to play, the less possibility you have of injuries occurring. As Daigneault has been known to say, “We can only control what we can control,” and winning Game 4 is definitely something they can control.

Phoenix Suns vs. Thunder preview (Game 82 of 82)

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  • Phoenix Suns (44-37, 7th in the West) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-17, 1st in the West)
  • When: Sunday, 12 April 2026 at 7:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: PHX: 113.9 (18th) / OKC: 117.7 (7th)
  • Defensive Rating: PHX: 113.0 (10th) / OKC: 106.1 (1st)
  • Net Rating: PHX: 1.0 (16th) / OKC: 11.6 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: PHX: 5-5 in their last 10 games / OKC: Lost their last game, but won their previous 7 before that

The Tip-Off

The end. Though every year feels long when you first start it, by the time you reach the end, you relate to the age-old adage that relates to parents and their children: the days are long, but the years are short. As we head into another postseason where we are the favorites, let’s appreciate the day by day steps that we’ve had to take to get to this point. It may not always be pretty, but as our MVP continues to preach, it’s always consistent.

This is the fifth and final regular season meeting between the Thunder and Suns. Oklahoma City has won 3 of the 4 meetings, with the lone Suns’ victory coming on a Devin Booker game-winning 3.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -7.5
  • O/U: 212.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – OUT (rest)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT (oblique injury management)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf injury management)
  • Chet Holmgren – OUT (back)
  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Ajay Mitchell – OUT (ankle injury management)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Cason Wallace – OUT (toe)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring injury management)
  • Jaylin Williams – OUT (Achilles tendinitis)

PHX

  • Grayson Allen – OUT (hamstring)
  • Devin Booker – OUT (ankle injury management)
  • Dillon Brooks – OUT (finger injury management)
  • Collin Gillespie – Questionable (shoulder)
  • Jordan Goodwin – Questionable (ankle)
  • Jalen Green – Questionable (knee)
  • Haywood Highsmith – Questionable (knee injury management)
  • Royce O’Neale – OUT (knee injury management)
  • Mark Williams – Questionable (foot injury management)

Three Big Things

  1. Two-Way Players – Due to the fact that 2-way players can’t be on the playoff roster, this is the our final opportunity to see our 2-way players this season. Brooks Barnhizer, Branden Carlson, and Payton Sandfort have all contributed in some form and some way to this season. With the amount of injuries the Thunder have had, having three extra players (along with Chris Youngblood and Buddy Boeheim) has been of utmost importance for the sustainability of this team. Here’s the them going off in the final game of the season.
  2. Again, Health Above All – For the players that are going to be on the playoff roster, please stay healthy in this game. Lu Dort is out here chasing All-Defense Team glory and guys like Kenrich Williams, Aaron Wiggins, Jared McCain, and even Nikola Topic could play critical roles at various points in the playoffs.
  3. Reflection – Though the record may not show it, this year’s team is much better than last’s year team. They’ve had to battle through a myriad of injuries all season long (to the tune of 2nd most man-games missed) and have had to face new foes (hello, San Antonio) throughout the season. They’ve had to switch from being the hunters to the hunted and have done a good job handling that. But now begins what the Thunder have been battling for the entire season…hello, playoffs! Time to defend our crown.

 

Thunder @ Denver Nuggets preview (Game 81 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (64-16, 1st in the West) vs. Denver Nuggets (52-28, 3rd in the West)
  • When: Friday, 10 April 2026 at 8:00pm CST
  • Where: Ball Arena in Denver, CO
  • TV: FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: DEN: 121.1 (1st) / OKC: 117.9 (7th)
  • Defensive Rating: DEN: 116.2 (21st) / OKC: 105.9 (1st)
  • Net Rating: DEN: 4.9 (8th) / OKC: 12.0 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: DEN: Winners of 10 straight / OKC: Winners of 7 straight

The Tip-Off

Dictating terms. It’s such a great position to be in for the final two games of the season. With home-court advantage throughout the playoffs wrapped up after Game 80, the Thunder are now in position to do whatever they want for these last two games of the season. And so, they will. Entering tonight’s game against Denver, the Thunder have chosen to sit most of their rotational pieces in order to, not only protect their health, but also to put Denver in position to stay in the 3rd seed of the Western Conference and keep them on San Antonio’s side of the bracket. It is a right afforded to those who compete the entire season and have the depth to weather fatigue and injuries.

This is the four and final meeting of the regular season between these Northwest Division rivals. The Thunder have won the first three meetings, but the last two games have been games that have gone down to the wire.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC +11.5
  • O/U: 231.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – OUT (rest)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT (oblique injury management)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf injury management)
  • Chet Holmgren – OUT (back)
  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Ajay Mitchell – OUT (ankle injury management)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Cason Wallace – OUT (toe)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring injury management)
  • Jaylin Williams – OUT (Achilles tendinitis)

DEN

  • Aaron Gordon – Questionable (hamstring injury management)
  • Christian Braun – Questionable (ankle)
  • Cam Johnson – Questionable (rest)
  • Nikola Jokic – Questionable (wrist injury management)
  • Spencer Jones – OUT (hamstring)
  • Jamal Murray – Questionable (shoulder)
  • Peyton Watson – OUT (hamstring)

Three Big Things

  1. Health Above All – While the majority of the Thunder’s rotation is resting, it is important that everyone on the team make it out of the regular season as unscathed as possible. Lu Dort is playing in this game in order to meet the 65-game rule for the possibility of making one of the All-Defense Teams. Jared McCain and Aaron Wiggins have played important rotational minutes this season and could be called upon when the postseason starts. The Thunder have finally gotten as healthy as they’ve been all season and the hope is that the injury report remains clean heading into the postseason.
  2. Speed Them Up – About the only way the Thunder can win this game is in muddying it up and getting out in transition. Denver is 19th in the league in defending Fast Break Points, allowing 15.5 per game. In addition, they are 20th in the league in Pace. If the Thunder can turn them over and make this game a track meet, that could be one way to make this game interesting.
  3. Nikola….Topic – I’m really excited to see the Thunder break off the shackles on Topic and allow him to play free in these last two games. Give him 40 minutes per game and get him prepared to compete for rotational minutes next season. Topic played in 13 G-League games this season and after a few games to get his body acclimated, Topic averaged 30.6 minutes per game in the last 7 games of the G-League season.

 

 

Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs preview (Game 52 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (40-11, 1st in the West) @ San Antonio Spurs (33-16, 2nd in the West)
  • When: Wednesday, 04 February 2026 at 8:30pm CST
  • Where: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX
  • TV: ESPN / FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: SAS: 116.2 (11th) / OKC: 118.2 (4th)
  • Defensive Rating: SAS: 111.2 (3rd) / OKC: 105.6 (1st)
  • Net Rating: SAS: 5.0 (6th) / OKC: 12.6 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: SAS: 3-3 in their last 6 games (alternating W’s and L’s) / OKC: 3-3 in their last 6 games, but have won 2 in a row

The Tip-Off

You know, I used to get pissed off when teams used to sit their stars (or even starters) for nationally televised games. Like, why the hell would I tune in to watch your 12th guy off the bench get starter minutes. But now, I kind of get it. Teams that have deep playoff runs don’t have the same restful offseason as those that don’t make the playoffs or exit early. The Thunder played two more months of basketball than most teams in the Association. And they came into this season with the idea that they would play their same brand of basketball. It worked for the first two months of the season. But their brand of basketball and their insistence to win began to take it’s toll on them. And so, the Thunder are now in a position to try and find respites of rest in the schedule whenever possible, while having it be as legit as possible. Those injuries start to pile on and the best recipe is to find rest. And so now, I get it.

This is the fifth and final meeting of the regular season between these two teams. San Antonio won the first three meetings of the season in December that sent Thunder fandom into a deep, dark depression. The Thunder returned the favor in January, winning 119-98.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC +8.5
  • O/U: 217.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – OUT (adductor)
  • Ousmane Dieng – OUT (Not With Team)
  • Lu Dort – OUT (knee)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT (abdominal strain)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (eye)
  • Chet Holmgren – OUT (back)
  • Ajay Mitchell – OUT (abdominal strain)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring)

SAS

  • Stephon Castle – Questionable (thigh)
  • Dylan Harper – Questionable (ankle)
  • Kelly Olynyk – Questionable (foot)
  • Jeremy Sochan – OUT (quad)
  • Lindy Waters III – OUT (knee)

Three Big Things

  1. Injury Bug – While OKC has been dealing with injuries the entire season, the injury bug finally hit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who will miss the next five games before the All-Star break and will also miss the All-Star game with an abdominal strain. The defending MVP has carried a heavy load this season, leading the Thunder to the best record in the league, while having to navigate consistent roster changes and injuries on a night to night basis. While it stinks to not have SGA out there, it is a good opportunity to get 2+ weeks of rest while only missing 5 games.
  2. Good Opportunity – Here I thought the Orlando game was going to be the sacrificial game. Turns out, it’s the Spurs game. I get it. Guys need rest, SGA is injured, and you’ve already played the Spurs four times this season. There’s not much to glean from another battle against a potential 2nd or 3rd round playoff opponent. But it is a good opportunity for guys like Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins to expand their games and try new things. Remember when J-Will got all his triple-doubles last season late in the season when most of the starters were resting. Remember when it was almost guaranteed that Wiggins would get 25+ points when the starters sat late last season. Maybe this can be the Chris Youngblood “5 3-pointers made” game. Maybe Brooks Barnhizer will actually take an outside shot. Lots of opportunity for development.
  3. Welcome, Jared McCain – The Thunder didn’t wait until Thursday to strike on a trade. They made a couple moves that netted them Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 2026 Houston first round pick and three future second round picks. In a lateral move, Ousmane Dieng and a 2029 2nd round pick were moved to Charlotte in exchange for Mason Plumlee, who was subsequently waived to create a roster spot for McCain. Dieng was then moved from Charlotte to Chicago in a separate trade. The idea of Dieng was always more hopeful than the actual production. Every time it seemed like Dieng was starting to carve out a role, an injury usually happened. By the time Dieng looked up, the team was on it’s way to contention and the developmental train had transformed into a hard-charging championship-contending train. But, hey, he got a championship ring out of it and was a Finals MVP for a G-League championship.

Thunder @ Milwaukee Bucks preview (Game 45 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (36-8, 1st in the West) @ Milwaukee Bucks (18-24, 11th in the East)
  • When: Wednesday, 21 January 2026 at 8:30pm CST
  • Where: Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI
  • TV: ESPN / FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: MIL: 113.0 (23rd) / OKC: 118.3 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: MIL: 116.1 (20th) / OKC: 105.2 (1st)
  • Net Rating: MIL: -3.1 (24th) / OKC: 13.1 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: MIL: 2-4 in their last 6 / OKC: 6-1 in their last 7

The Set-Up

Is everyone ready for Rivalry Week? That time where we remember those great playoff series of years’ past between the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder. (?????) Who could ever forget the thrilling 5-OT game in 1989 between Milwaukee and OK(SEATTLE), in which the Bucks won 155-154. Or the epic 7-game series between Milwaukee and OK(SEATTLE) in 1980, where OK(Seattle) won 4-3 and the average margin of victory was 4 points? Many of us weren’t alive for some of those memorable thrillers between those two franchises. Here of late, we have the Giannis Antetokounmpo “foot on the line, botched call” game from 2017 and the NBA Cup blowout from last season. I mean the qualifications are very vague, but I guess there’s a rivalry.

This is the first of two meetings this season between the Thunder and Bucks. The Bucks beat the Thunder in the NBA Cup Final last season. That loss gave Oklahoma City a taste of what was to be expected in the playoffs and they rode that all the way to the championship.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -9.5
  • O/U: 226.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – OUT (groin)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring)
  • Jaylin Williams – Questionable (back/glute)

MIL

  • Kevin Porter Jr – Questionable (oblique)
  • Taurean Prince – OUT (neck)
  • Myles Turner – Questionable (ankle)

Three Big Things

  1. Three-Point Defense – Milwaukee has been a hodge-podge of inconsistency this year. The one thing that has been consistent, has been their 3-point shooting. They rank 6th in the league in 3-pointers made at 14.7 3-pointers made per game, 2nd in 3-pt percentage at 39.4%, 2nd in Effective FG%, and 6th in True Shooting %. The gravity that Giannis Antetokounmpo has allows players on the team to have OPEN looks from deep. Here’s a list of Milwaukee players who are shooting over 39% and their attempts per game: Bobby Portis (47.7% / 4.1 attempts), AJ Green (43.7% / 6.9 attempts), Ryan Rollins (39.2% / 5.7 attempts), and Myles Turner (39% / 5.8 attempts). Three-pointers account for 39% of Milwaukee’s points per game (5th highest in the league). With the Thunder’s ethos to play defense from inside out, this could be an issue if the Bucks players get hot from the outside.
  2. Play Aggressive, Opportunistic Defense – The Milwaukee Bucks are the worst free-throw shooting team in the league, shooting 73.5% from the line. Of the players who average over two free-throw attempts per game, only Kevin Porter Jr. shoots over 80% from the line. Antetokounmpo averages nearly 10 free throw attempts per game, but only shoots 65% from the line. If a foul prevents an open three-point attempt, take the foul.
  3. Attack the Bucks – The Bucks allow the 6th most free-throw attempts. While the interior defense is good with guys like Antetokounmpo and Turner, their perimeter defense can be very leaky. This should allow guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, and Aaron Wiggins to get into the teeth of the defense and either draw fouls or spray the rock out to open shooters.

Thunder @ Memphis Grizzlies preview (Game 39 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (31-7, 1st in the West) @ Memphis Grizzlies (16-21, 10th in the West)
  • When: Friday, 09 January 2026 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
  • TV: NBATV & FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: MEM: 112.4 (24th) / OKC: 118.0 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: MEM: 114.0 (14th) / OKC: 105.0 (1st)
  • Net Rating: MEM: -1.6 (18th) / OKC: 13.0 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: MEM: 1-5 in their last 6 / OKC: 5-2 in their last 7

The Set-Up

A win is a win, right? While the way it played out may not have been what we wanted, the Thunder eventually outlasted the Jazz in overtime and won a close game. It was almost like you didn’t know how to feel about the win. Like, yeah, you won. But it was almost foreign. Jalen Williams said it best, after the Jazz game: “This is going to sound cocky, but the last 3 years we won so much that when we have a normal human stretch of losing a game or 2 that we shouldn’t have, the world freaks out.” That’s probably one of the best ways to frame it. The bar has been set so high by the Thunder that when they lose to inferior opponents or when they win a close game to a “tanking team”, the entire fanbase loses their collective shit. In addition, the team is dealing with variables that they haven’t dealt with in the past. A shortened offseason, constant injuries to key rotation pieces, a crappy schedule (again), and dealing with being every team’s SuperBowl every night. That takes a toll and I think we are seeing it now. But like any great team, it’s on OKC to weather the storm and come out prepared for those games of consequence in April, May, and hopefully, June.

This is the third and final meeting of the season between the Thunder and Grizzlies. OKC has won the first two meetings this season by an average of 15 points. Dating back to December 2022, the Thunder have won 15 straight meetings against the Grizzlies, to include the playoffs.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -5.5
  • O/U: 230.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – Questionable (back)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT (ankle)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf)
  • Chet Holmgren – OUT (shin)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)
  • Cason Wallace – OUT (toe)
  • Jaylin Williams – OUT (heel)

MEM

  • Brandon Clarke – OUT (calf)
  • Cedric Coward – Questionable (ankle)
  • Zach Edey – OUT (ankle)
  • Ty Jerome – OUT (calf)
  • John Konchar – Doubtful (thumb)
  • Ja Morant – OUT (calf)
  • Scotty Pippen Jr – OUT (toe)
  • Vince Williams Jr – Questionable (knee)

Three Big Things

  1. Rebounding – With Isaiah Hartenstein missing the last few weeks, rebounding has been a big issue with the Thunder. Chet Holmgren tries to do what he can, as he has been averaging 8.8 rebounds since Dec. 18th, but the lack of size and physicality on the front line has put the Thunder in precarious positions in close games. The Grizzlies come into this game as one of the best rebounding teams in the league, ranking No. 3 in total rebounds (46.3 per game) and No. 7 in Rebound Percentage. The Grizzlies may be without Zach Edey in this game, but Jaren Jackson Jr, Santi Aldama, and Jock Landale all average above or close to 6 rebounds a game, with Landale racking up nearly 3 rebounds on the offensive end.
  2. Powering through injuries – With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren both being out for the Thunder, the onus of scoring will likely fall on Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. But whether we win or lose may rest upon the so-called “others”. Part of the reason why we were able to sustain and win during this stretch last season was because Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe got hot for about a 1-2 month stretch (from January to March). A performance like that will likely be necessary for the Thunder to win a game like this one.
  3. Cam Spencer – Yes, Cam frickin’ Spencer. I can’t believe one of my points of emphasis is Cam Spencer. For some reason, we always get cooked by shorter, seemingly unathletic, point guards. Guys like, oh, I don’t know, Pat Spencer, TJ McConnell, Jose Alvarado, etc. But there always comes a point in the game, especially if it’s close, where the Thunder clamped down, don’t bite on the cute little fakes, and eventually make players like that a liability for the opponent. But if you are missing the bulk of your good defensive players and your interior defensive anchor is out, then this may be a game where a guy like Spencer could show out.

Thunder @ Golden State Warriors preview (Game 22 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (20-1, 1st in the West) @ Golden State Warriors (11-10, 8th in the West)
  • When: Tuesday, 02 December 2025 at 10:00pm CST
  • Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
  • Offensive Rating: GSW: 113.0 (23rd) / OKC: 118.9 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: GSW: 111.8 (7th) / OKC: 103.6 (1st)
  • Net Rating: GSW: 1.3 (16th) / OKC: 15.3 (1st)

The Set-Up

Four years ago today, the Oklahoma City Thunder traveled to Memphis to face the Grizzlies, who were going to be without Ja Morant. The Thunder were also going to be without two of their best players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. The Grizzlies were favored to win, as the Thunder were in the midst of a rebuild. As they say, there are professionals on both teams. The outcome of the game, though, was anything but professional. The Thunder came out flat, dug themselves in a hole, got tossed some shovels, and kept on digging. To the tune of a record 73-point drubbing, 152-79. SGA, Aaron Wiggins, and Kenrich Williams saw that game from the sidelines. Lu Dort played in that game and was the leading scorer for OKC. Four years later, the Thunder (and those same four players) sit on top of the basketball world with teams scared they may be in the midst of a dynastic run. As Shai’s favorite rapper, Drake, would say, “Started from the bottom, now we’re here…”

This is the 2nd of 4 meetings this season between the Thunder and Warriors. OKC won the first game in resounding fashion, 126-102, in a game that saw Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combine to score just 23 points on 38% shooting from the field and 17% shooting from 3. For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points and dished out 11 assists, while Chet Holmgren tallied 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -12
  • O/U: 222.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – OUT (quad)
  • Lu Dort – OUT (adductor strain)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf strain)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)

GSW

  • Jimmy Butler – Questionable (glute)
  • Stephen Curry – OUT (quad)
  • Draymond Green – Probable (foot sprain)
  • Al Horford – OUT (back)
  • Trayce Jackson-Davis – Questionable (knee)
  • De’Anthony Melton – OUT (knee)
  • Alex Toohey – OUT (knee)

Three Big Things

  1. Causing turnovers – For as great the Warriors have been through the years on the offensive end, their Achilles heel has always been their propensity to commit turnovers. That is no different this season. Golden State turns the ball over 16.2 times a game, which is 5th worst in the league. On the other end of the spectrum, OKC creates the most turnovers and leads the league in points off turnovers.
  2. Three-Point Shooting – If I were to ask who do you think has a higher 3pt percentage between OKC and Golden State, the likely answer would be Golden State. In reality, it’s actually OKC. Not by much, but still, very surprising. The Warriors still lead the league in 3-pointers made per game. With Stephen Curry out, the onus to make threes will fall on Moses Moody (39.2% on 6.6 attempts), Brandin Podziemski (38.6% on 4.8 attempts), and Buddy Hield (30.8% on 4.3 attempts). Hield is having a down year, but can catch fire in an instant.
  3. History in the making – In his last game against the Portland Trailblazers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checked back into the game with 5:53 left in the 4th quarter. He had 16 points and was in jeopardy of losing his consecutive game streak of scoring 20 or more points in a game. With 4:18 left, he finally got loose for a difficult 17-foot fallaway jumper. Then with 2:30 left, SGA hit a 14-foot middy, off an assist from Jalen Williams. Whew! Crisis averted. And in sole possession of 2nd place with 93 consecutive games of scoring 20 points or more. The next target is the record of 126 games. And for anyone that wants to talk mess or downplay that consistency, just know that LeBron James currently holds the record for consecutive games scoring at least 10 points or more in NBA history with 1,297 games and counting. And during that time, LeBron has stayed in games while injured just to collect the necessary points to keep the streak going. Even last night, as the Lakers were getting blown out by the Suns, LeBron stayed in the game long enough to notch his 10th point and then was pulled a minute later late in the 4th quarter.

Cookies and Cream: How Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace are wrecking the playoffs

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We. Are. Back.

I know, last year we were here too, but it just feels different this year.

Yes, we were the 1-seed last year too. But this year we weren’t fighting until the literal final game of the season to try to secure it.

The arrival is here, and if the first 2 games of the Thunder’s round 1 series against the Grizzlies are any indication, it’s going to be here for quite some time.

It really feels like this could be our year.

And you just got to tip your cap to Sam Presti, man.

You have the front runner for the MVP.

You have 3rd year player who is an All-Star.

You have another 3rd year player who was playing like an All-Star.

You have one of (if not) the best perimeter defenders in basketball.

You have a behemoth in the paint to fix every weakness that doomed us the year prior, in addition to being a playmaking maestro.

Then you have the deepest bench in basketball.

From the marksman’s ability of Isaiah Joe, the offensive versatility (and the saving of basketball) of Aaron Wiggins, the hustle and toughness from Kenrich Williams, the steady play from Jaylin Williams, all the way down to 2nd round rookie Ajay Mitchell being able to play in the playoffs in his first year and actually have success.

That’s all well and good, and a big reason why the Thunder are favored to finally bring home the title. That glorious Larry O’B. Mm mm mm.

But I want to highlight the pieces off the bench that I believe are the most critical to the Thunder achieving the goal, and are as equally responsible for the dominant play we have seen in games 1 and 2 as anyone else of the roster.

Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso.

We at the Topic: Thunder podcast started calling Cason Wallace “The Cookie Monster” early in the season, in reference to A: he always seemingly had his hand in the cookie jar. And B: he was one of the league leader in steals (steals = cookies for the uninitiated).

As the season went on, and we started getting healthier through a season of turmoil and adversity, Cason and Caruso got to play together more. Which was a pure joy for Thunder fans, and absolute nightmare fuel for opposing teams.

Thats when we took the name and morphed it into “Cookies and Cream”. The whole cookie thing is still relevant, but you got Cason doing these rim rattling dunks in transition (like one would dunk a cookie into milk… anyone???) and Caruso is picking peoples pockets, tipping passes, challenging the post, blocking shots, diving on the floor. And he’s an old(er) white guy, so of course he’s the cream. Cream of the crop when it comes to the games most disruptive defenders.

Now you know why we call them that, but what we saw last night was them in action like we haven’t seen before.

Entering the 4th, the duo had had a solid showing so far. Cason had 3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist, while Caruso had 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

The Grizzlies had just cut the lead to 11, and had a bit of momentum to try to trim away further.

Then Alex Caruso hit a 3.

A couple possessions later he forced a jump ball with Jaren Jackson Jr.

Immediately after, the Grizzlies get the jump ball, and Scottie Pippen Jr. is blocked by Cason.

On the other end of the floor, Cason blows by Zach Edey on a close out and finishes with a THUNDEROUS (see what I did there) flush.

A couple possessions later, Ja Morant drives to the right baseline to try to put up a shot over Isaiah Hartenstein, and ALEX CARUSO OUT OF NOWHERE comes to send his shot to the nether realm.

On the other end of the floor, Caruso crosses up JJJ, drives left shows the ball on a shot fake with his right hand, pivots and finishes the impressive floater.

A few possessions later, Caruso dives onto the floor to tip the ball out of Ja’s hand (MID CROSSOVER BY THE WAY?!?!) into Cason’s hands, who then outlets to Jalen Williams for the lay.

Alex Caruso checks out.

Thunder are now back up to a 20 point lead.

That’s just one example of the game wrecking abilities that Caso and AC have.

And as my oldest child who is now seemingly obsessed with the Mighty Ducks, it reminds me of another dynamic, game wrecking duo, that fed off the energy of the crowd.

Fulton Reed and Dean Portman.

Better known as the Bash Brothers.

When the Mighty Ducks were getting beat up, and run out of the rink, they looked to the Bash Brothers to tilt the game on its head. Their physicality and energy were contagious through the crowd and the rest of the Ducks, and it ended up being the spark that won them the game.

The Thunder haven’t yet needed Cason and Caruso in a win/lose playoff scenario, but the comparison is still on point.

When they come into the game, the defense steps up all across the floor.

In game 2 the tandem had a defensive rating of 88.2.

In game 1 they had a defensive rating of 65 (!!).

They just come in and do nothing but wreck the game, tear it to pieces. And whether it’s cutting into a lead or blowing it wide open, when they check in, they make things happen.

Call them Cookies and Cream, call them Allstate, call them Bash Brothers, I don’t care.

Whatever you call them, they are absolute game wreckers.

And they are going to be a huge reason the Oklahoma City Thunder will finally get that elusive Larry O’Brien trophy.

And who knows, maybe we’ll celebrate with some Cookies and Cream.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Thunder preview (Game 2 – 1st round)

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  • Memphis Grizzlies (0-1) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0)
  • When: Tuesday, 22 April 2025 at 6:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Series: OKC leads 1-0
  • TV: TNT/truTV/Max/FanDuelTV

The Set-Up

Utter dominance. This is what the Thunder did to Memphis in Game 1. In the first half, the Thunder scored as many points in the 2nd quarter as the Grizzlies did for the entire half. In the 2nd half, the Thunder scored as many points in the 3rd quarter as the Grizzlies did for the entire 2nd half. For the game, the Thunder had shooting splits of 50/35/93, while the Grizzlies managed a paltry 34/17/83. Memphis was the 2nd in total rebounds and 3rd in rebound% for the season. The Thunder outrebounded them by 11 in Game 1. The Thunder had 36 assists on 50 made baskets. The Grizzlies got turned over 24 times to the tune of 24 points off turnovers. They outscored Memphis 27-5 in fast-break points. It was a thrashing of monumental proportions. After the game, Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant had to reiterate, “We will never play that bad again.” Unfortunately for Morant, even if the Grizzlies get significantly better, it just may not be enough against the buzzsaw that is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Betting Info

Line: OKC -14.5
O/U: 228.5

Injury Report

OKC
Ousmane Dieng – OUT (calf)
Nikola Topic – OUT (knee)

MEM
Brandon Clarke – OUT (knee)
Zyon Pullin – OUT (knee)
Jaylen Wells – OUT (wrist)

Five Big Things

1. SGA – About the only thing the Thunder can improve upon in this game is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing better. He shot 4-13 overall and 1-7 from 3. While the Thunder didn’t necessarily need him to be the offensive engine that he is, if he plays a normal SGA game, it’ll open up the offense that much more. Which, for Memphis, has to be a terrifying thought.

2. Aaron Wiggins – If this is the Aaron Wiggins the Thunder are getting for the playoffs, start measuring the diameter of the Thunder players’ ring fingers. Wiggins didn’t even step foot on the court in the first 12 minutes of action. But as soon as he stepped on that court, a 3-pointer went in. After 21 minutes of action, he had registered 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists on 53/57/100 shooting splits.

3. Depth – The depth of the Thunder really showed in Game 1. It was just wave after wave of rotational NBA talent. Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Jaylin Williams would all be starters on a number of NBA teams. In Game 1, it was Wiggins that got the bench player of the game award. In Game 2, it could be Joe shooting the grip off the ball. In Game 3, it could be Kenrich Williams coming in and hitting some key 3’s in a tight road game. This team has been built brick by brick for this moment.

4. Quicker Pick & Roll Action – For Memphis, about the only thing that I could see working for them is quicker PnR action for Ja Morant. The PnR in the middle of the floor worked a lot better for Memphis than the action on the wings. This may mean benching Zach Edey and starting Marvin Bagley, who’s a little quicker on his feet. Giving Ja a roll man that is a little quicker than Edey may play more into Morant’s preference of pace, especially against the Thunder’s defense.

5. Dub – One of the biggest questions for the Thunder heading into Game 1 was how would Jalen Williams open up these playoffs. The expectations being heaped upon this third year player have been astronomical, but Dub came out in Game 1 and completely dominated to the tune of 20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block. He was the head of the snake in the run during the first 8 minutes of the 2nd quarter that basically put the game to bed. If this is the confidence Dub will be playing with throughout these playoffs, watch out now!