Tag Archives: Stephen Curry

Phoenix Suns vs. Thunder preview (Game 25 of 82, NBA Cup Quarterfinals)

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  • Phoenix Suns (14-10, 7th in the West) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-1, 1st in the West)
  • When: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 at 6:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: Prime Video
  • Offensive Rating: PHX: 115.5 (12th) / OKC: 120.0 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: PHX: 113.4 (12th) / OKC: 104.1 (1st)
  • Net Rating: PHX: 2.1 (12th) / OKC: 15.9 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: PHX: 2-1 in their last 3, 6-4 in their last 10 / OKC: 15 W’s in a row

The Set-Up

Chasing history. With a win tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder will match the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best start in NBA history at 24-1. While the records would be the same, the method in which they’ve arrived have been completely different. The Warriors changed the way the game was played offensively with their dominant pace and space style. The Thunder, on the other hand, are doing this with their other-worldly defense. The similarities are pretty loud also. Stephen Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have similar impacts on their teams, while the supporting cast would be stars and starters on other teams. In addition, the coaching on both teams was top-notch and very player-driven. Now, OKC just has to go out there and do it.

This is the 2nd of (now) 5 meetings this season between the Suns and Thunder. Oklahoma City won the first meeting, which was also an NBA Cup game, by a score of 123-119. It was one of the few close games the Thunder have played recently. In that game, Jalen Williams returned to the lineup after missing the first 19 games of the season recovering from wrist surgery. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points, Chet Holmgren pitched in with 23 points and 8 rebounds, and the Thunder were able to hold off a late push from Collin Gillespie and the surprising Suns.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -14.5
  • O/U: 225.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf)
  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)

PHX

  • Devin Booker – Questionable (groin)
  • Koby Brea – Day to Day (wrist)
  • Jalen Green – OUT (hamstring)
  • Isaiah Livers – OUT (hip)

Three Big Things

  1. SGA is back – After a one-game absence, SGA is back in the lineup. While it does seem like SGA is dealing with something with his elbow, as evidenced by the tapework he usually has on it most games, it was also a great time in the schedule to buy Shai a game of rest. Playing against the directionless Utah Jazz allowed the team to give the reins to the other two members of their core 3, and they did what they were supposed to do. SGA may not be playing major minutes when compared to other high-usage players, but getting him a game of rest here and there is tantamount to the success of this team moving forward.
  2. 2nd Chance Points – Phoenix comes into this game as the 4th best offensive rebounding team in terms of OReb%, the 6th best offensive rebounding team in terms of raw stats (nearly 13 a game), and 9th in 2nd chance points at 16 Second Chance Points per game. With Isaiah Hartenstein being out, the onus will fall on Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams to secure defensive rebounds and prevent those 2nd chance points. In their last meeting, Phoenix’s near 4th quarter comeback was spurred by 7 offensive rebounds and 9 second chance points in the final quarter.
  3. Track Meet – Both of these teams like to create turnovers and get out in transition. The Thunder and Suns are #1 and 2, respectively, in points off turnovers. Where they differ completely is in how they defend turnovers. OKC is the #1 team in defending points off turnovers, while Phoenix is 28th in that same category. If OKC can play their game, they can win the turnover battle and the points off turnover battle.

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.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Thunder preview (Game 81 of 82)

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  • Milwaukee Bucks (49-31, 2nd in the East) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (55-25, 3rd in the West)
  • When: Friday, 12 April 2024 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Offensive Rating – MIL: 118.0 (5th) / OKC: 118.1 (4th)
  • Defensive Rating – MIL: 114.9 (18th) / OKC: 111.5 (4th)
  • Net Rating – MIL: 3.2 (8th) / OKC: 6.6 (2nd)

The Set-Up

The Play-In tournament is working. Even though the post-season participants have been known for a while now, the positioning of the majority of those teams is still in the air. And that makes games in April matter. Whether it’s trying to avoid the 9/10 game or trying to avoid the play-in games altogether, most teams are still playing with fervor with 1-2 games left to play. That was basically unheard of in years past. April games were very similar to summer league games, where NBA hopefuls and team developmental players would get their opportunity to shine. Now we are still seeing guys like LeBron and Steph battle it out trying to move up out of the 9/10 game. It makes for a fun 82-game season, instead of the usual 75-game season plus 7-game G-League showcase at the end of the season.

This is the 2nd and final meeting of the season between these two teams. The Thunder were soundly defeated by the Bucks in late March by a score of 118-93. A game in which the Thunder likely played their worst third quarter of the season, getting outscored 34-17 and shooting just 24% from the field for those 12 minutes.

Betting Info

  • Line: OKC -14.5
  • O/U: 223.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Josh Giddey (hip) – Questionable

MIL

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) – OUT
  • AJ Green (ankle) – OUT
  • Damian Lillard (adductor) – OUT

Three Big Things

  1. Playoff Seeding – Milwaukee and OKC find themselves in similar situations when it comes to playoff seeding. OKC still has the opportunity to get the No. 1 seed in the West, but would need a divine miracle for the Nuggets to lose to both the Spurs and Grizzlies in their last two games of the season. The battle for No. 2 and 3 likely hinges on how serious the Thunder and Timberwolves take these last two games. Both teams are tied as far as record is concerned, but Minnesota holds the tie-breaker due to their better conference record. Minnesota plays Atlanta, who is already locked into the 10th seed in the East, and Phoenix, who could still be battling for the 6th seed in the West. OKC plays Milwaukee, who is still battling for the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the East, and Dallas, who is basically locked into the 5th seed in the West. OKC would need to win out and hope Minnesota loses one of their last two games in order to secure the 2nd seed.
  2. SGA – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played with so much vigor since he returned from a 4-game absence due to a quad injury. In the two games he’s played (on a back to back, at that), SGA has averaged 33 points, 7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2 stocks on 54/50/84 shooting splits. That burst with zero hesitation on the drives is back. And so is the swag of the team. When Sacramento had the Thunder down by 20 in the first half on Tuesday, you just had the feeling that SGA would will the Thunder back. When he is on, the Thunder have a different feel about them.
  3. Bobby “Michael Jordan” Portis – For the season, Bobby Portis is averaging 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. But for some reason, in the seven games Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed, Bobby Portis turns into Robert Portis with a grown man game. In those seven games, Portis averages 23.7 points and 10.4 rebounds. Here’s hoping he has a Bobby Portis game and not a Robert Portis game.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Thunder preview (Game 49 of 82)

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  • Charlotte Hornets (10-36, 13th in the East) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (33-15, 2nd in the West)
  • When: Friday, 02 February 2024 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Offensive Rating – CHA: 109.6 (27th) / OKC: 119.0 (6th)
  • Defensive Rating – CHA: 121.4 (30th) / OKC: 111.2 (4th)
  • Net Rating – CHA: -11.8 (30th) / OKC: 7.8 (2nd)

The Set-Up

Consistency. Getting things done in a manner that become almost habitual. When it comes to winning basketball teams, consistency usually takes the form of performance over a certain amount of time. We always hear things like “This team is 8-2 over their last 10 games”. But to remain consistent over an entire 82-game season is not just the mark of a good team. It’s usually the mark of an elite team. Also a lucky one, at that.

There are only four teams in the league that have yet to have suffered a 3-game losing streak on the season. And those four teams consist of the top two teams in each conference. We’re almost 50 games into the season. That’s not an anomaly…that’s the trend for these four teams. Even through a hellish schedule, the Thunder have remained as consistent as possible in keeping pace in the West. With a little bit of rest in the horizon, the Thunder are in prime position to make a push heading into the playoffs.

This is the first meeting of the season between these two teams. They meet again on April 7th in Charlotte.

Betting Info

  • Line: OKC -16.5
  • O/U: 225.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Isaiah Joe (sternal contusion) – OUT
  • Jalen Williams (ankle) – OUT

CHA

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) – Doubtful

Three Big Things

  1. Miles Bridges and PJ Washington – For some reason, these two players terrify me (and it’s not just because Bridges can get a little physical, if you know what I mean (I’ll be here all week)). Tweeners that can masquerade as small ball 5’s give the Thunder fits. And it always seems like these two players choose their games against Oklahoma City to turn into big-bodied Stephen Currys. If LaMelo Ball is out, I know these will be the only options for the Hornets and the Thunder’s defense will be keyed in. But still….
  2. Run ‘Em and Attack the Paint – By most metrics, Charlotte is the worst defensive team in the league. They are a bottom-10 team in allowing the most points off turnovers, the most 2nd-chance points, and the most points in the paint. Surprisingly, for being such a young team, they are 22nd in pace. They are bottom-10 in turnover percentage. They are bottom-3 in true shooting percentage. Simply put, they are a bad team.
  3. Just take care of business – Simple as that.

Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves preview (Game 17 of 82 / In-Season Tournament Game #4)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (11-5, 2nd in the West) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (12-4, 1st in the West)
  • When – Tuesday, 28 November 2023 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where – Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
  • Offensive Rating – MIN: 113.2 (13th) / OKC: 117.9 (6th)
  • Defensive Rating – MIN: 106.8 (2nd) / OKC: 109.6 (7th)
  • Net Rating – MIN: 6.4 (4th) / OKC: 8.3 (3rd)

The Set-Up

If you are writing a story about the come-up of a great young team, you always have to have the protagonist. The rival the team has to overcome to make it to the top of that mountain. For the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, it was the Detroit Pistons. For the Kobe/Shaq Lakers, it was the Sacramento Kings. For the Curry Warriors, it was Mark Jackson. For this iteration of the Thunder, we still don’t know who that team is. It could be the Orlando Magic. The San Antonio Spurs. Maybe the Houston Rockets.

Or it could be the team that we’ve already faced in a non-regular season scenario. These two teams faced off in the 2nd round game of the Play-In Tournament last season, with Minnesota out-dueling the Thunder on their way to a 120-95 victory. The Wolves were very physical and bested the Thunder in points in the paint, 58-30. The frontcourt tandem of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns combined to score 49 points and grab 19 rebounds, while shooting 19 free throws.

Season Series – This is the first meeting this season between these division rivals.

Injury Report

OKC

  • None

MIN

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) – Out
  • Jaden McDaniels (ankle) – Out
  • Jordan McLaughlin (knee) – Out

Three Big Things

  1. High stakes – Okay, so these may not be huge stakes. No one really cares about who’s number one in their conference 17 games into an 82-game season. I get it. But, man, would it feel good to be conference king for a day. If nothing else, a win gives you a leg up on a division/conference rival for future playoff seeding and knocks Minnesota out of the In-Season Tournament.
  2. Big rotation – It’ll be interesting to see how head coach Mark Daigneault handles the big rotation tonight. We saw in the Philly game his willingness to play two bigs in Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams. What could be most interesting is the Naz Reid vs. Kenrich Williams match-up that I think we’ll see some tonight.
  3. Shooting – I’ve got a secret for you guys. The Thunder, now hear me out, tend to do better when their 3-point shot is falling. I know, I know. Shocking! All kidding aside, the Thunder have turned into the quintessential modern NBA team. Most of their shots come from the 3-point line and in the paint. Only 7.6% of their points come from the mid-range. And while the Thunder do lead the league in 3-point percentage, when that shot isn’t falling, the offense can get very clunky. Players like Lu Dort and Cason Wallace, who started the season off hot, have now regressed to where they likely will be for the rest of the season. And if Isaiah Joe isn’t completely flame-throwing from deep, the offense looks even worse.

How Ja Morant Can Legitimately Ruin Iguodala’s Career

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No this is not clickbait. There is a very real possibility that if Andre Iguodala does not get it together, he could be done this season and perhaps on the doorsteps of retirement. Here’s how.

Now, Twitter has been having an absolute blast with Ja’s recent likes/posts. Let’s review:

First, reports emerge that Iguodala refuses to play basketball for the Grizzlies if he is not traded. Memphis, honorably, obliges his request.

Then, chaos begins. Ja Morant is initially subtle about his thoughts, but soon people quickly realize this guy is gonna go full nuke.

Image

Personally, I love it. Ja has quickly become the darling of the NBA, and Iguodala is an absolute diva to pull a move like this. You won’t play basketball, the sport you worked your whole life to play, because you’re team isn’t the Monstars from Space Jam anymore? Get outta here.

But what’s the cherry on top? Well, Memphis has reportedly been cooperative, but these messages from Ja might change that soon. The Grizzlies are building around this guy, and they need to be 100% behind him. Rather than trading Iguodala to his preferred destinations, they could do something much more ruthless.

Normally, I’m for the players in these situations. But let’s just say some things are best served cold and after the playoff eligibility deadline.

It would be a real, real, real shame if Iguodala, a player who has contributed absolutely nothing to his current team, was cut in March and sent home to watch the NBA playoffs from his couch. Heaven forbid.

Thunder vs. Warriors preview (Game 1 of 82)

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okc logoย at gsw

  • When: Tuesday, 16 October 2018 at 9:30 pm CST
  • Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
  • TV: TNT
  • Radio:ย WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))
  • Line: GS -13.0 | O/U: 220.5

Even with the uncertainty surrounding Andre Roberson’s recovery from patella tendon surgery and Russell Westbrook’s recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery, there’s a sense of calm as the Oklahoma City Thunder embark on the 2018-19 season. Over the past three seasons, the beginning of the season has usually been accompanied with the unknown dread associated with the upcoming free agency decisions of key players on the team.ย  Continue reading →

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors preview (Game 79 of 82)

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NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors

  • When: Thursday, 11 April 2013 at 9:30 PM CST
  • Where: ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA

Hello, number 1 seed in the Western Conference. Itโ€™s nice to see you again. The last time we met, you only stayed for about 24 hours before you went back with your older friend. Thatโ€™s fine. I get it. But Iโ€™m ready to commit to you now, number 1 seed. Letโ€™s work on this tonight. (โ€ฆand cue cheesy saxophone music).

Once again, the Oklahoma City Thunder control their own destiny in the Western Conference. Match the San Antonio Spurs in these final 4 games, and the conference, and home court advantage throughout the Western portion of the playoffs, is yours. The more difficult stretch of those final 4 games begins tonight in Oakland versus the upstart Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors, under coaches Don Nelson and Keith Smart, used to be a team that was all offense and little, to no, defense. Under coach Mark Jackson, though, the Warriors have become the epitome of a balanced team. This balance has led to a 45-33 record, good for 6th in the conference. The defense, though not necessarily great, has focused primarily on interior defense and rebounding. David Lee is a walking double-double machine, and Andrew Bogut, while working himself back from 2 injury plagued seasons, has been consistent defensively. The offense revolves around the perimeter shooting of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, with rookie Harrison Barnes providing most of the wing scoring. Off the bench, the Warriors donโ€™t miss a beat with Festus Ezeli and Carl Landry providing the interior support and Jarrett Jack doing the work from the perimeter.

warriors

The season series between these two teams has been a home affair, with the home team winning each game. ย The two games in Oklahoma City were one-sided affairs with the Thunder winning both games by double digits. The one game in Oakland was a back and forth affair the Golden State took control of in the 4th quarter to win by 5.

Probable Starting Line-ups

Golden State

  • PG โ€“ Stephen Curry
  • SG โ€“ Klay Thompson
  • SF โ€“ Harrison Barnes
  • PF โ€“ David Lee
  • C โ€“ Andrew Bogut

Oklahoma City

  • PG โ€“ Russell Westbrook
  • SG โ€“ Thabo Sefolosha
  • SF โ€“ Kevin Durant
  • PF โ€“ Serge Ibaka
  • C โ€“ Kendrick Perkins

3 Keys to the Game

1. Board Work โ€“ Rebounding will be very important to the outcome of this game. Golden State is second in team rebounds in the league. Much like the Indiana Pacers game, if the Thunder want to shut down one of the Warriorsโ€™ strengths, they need to be disciplined on the glass. With their propensity to shoot the 3-ball, expect many long rebounds and tap outs. Rebounding will need to be a total team effort in this game.

Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka

2. Perimeter Defense โ€“ As balanced as Golden State is, their bread and butter begins with the perimeter shooting of Curry and Thompson. Making each of these two players hesitate on their shots and put the ball on the floor is a defensive victory. Thabo Sefolosha and Russell Westbrook will need to stay on their man and not get sucked into the vacuum of the interior.

martin

3. Kevin Martin โ€“ If this turns into a perimeter shooting contest, the Thunder will need Martin to help Kevin Durant, Westbrook, and Sefolosha from the outside. While Martin had been mired in a mini slump this month, he played great from mid-March on and had a good game against the Knicks. This would be a great game for him to break out of his funk.