When the Oklahoma City Thunder got off to a hot start and won 24 of their first 25 games, it seemed like it was a foregone conclusion that they would return to the NBA Finals.
But while the Thunder still have the best record in the league at 45-15, they have looked strong over the past few weeks, especially with injuries to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
Oklahoma City is eager to defend its championship, but that won't be the case for NBA legend Dwyane Wade, as he predicted on "The Zach Lowe Show" that the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons will face off in this year's NBA Finals.
"I've watched the Spurs, I've watched some of their games. Even though I don't think they should be ready, they should be a team over the next three years, but they do things sometimes. You look at their roster, you look at their players, with the right matchups, they'll be tough to beat," Wade said.
The Thunder have lost three times in four meetings with the Spurs this season, including the NBA Cup semifinals, in which San Antonio ended OKC's 16-game winning streak.
As for the Pistons, Wade, who works as an analyst for NBC and Prime, said their depth will carry them to the final round.
"I watched Detroit the other night in New York without (Jalen) Duren and without (Isaiah) Stewart, and I didn't see them lose once. I said, 'This team is too deep.' They know their style, they know their game, they know how to win. It's hard when a team doesn't have to figure it out,” the three-time champion explained.
The Thunder lost to the Pistons on Wednesday, although they were significantly weaker without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Ajay Mitchell.
Oklahoma City will have another tough test on Friday against the Denver Nuggets.
