標籤: Thunder

At the start of the 2025–26 NBA season, it became clear that the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs were on a collision course for a playoff berth. Luckily, the latest rivalry in the NBA will take place in the Western Conference Finals.

While Oklahoma City finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, it lost four of five games in head-to-head contests against San Antonio. Those competitions also revealed just how much friction there is between Victor Wembanyama and the Thunder, which adds even more intrigue to the series.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at our Western Conference Finals predictions.

Game 1: Oklahoma City Thunder 113, San Antonio Spurs 109

Oklahoma City is expected to get wing Jalen Williams back for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, which is an added boost for a team that is already well-rested. Wembanyama and the Spurs have already proven they can go to Paycom Center and win, but the extra time to prepare along with home-court advantage could impact Game 1. We expect this to be a tight game from start to finish, but Wambayama’s 30-plus points combined with the 30-plus points from Ajayi Mitchell and Williams will propel Oklahoma City to a Game 1 victory.

Game 2: San Antonio Spurs 117, Oklahoma City Thunder 110

The Spurs will steal one from the Thunder; This is one of our Western Conference Finals predictions we feel the strongest about. Wembanyama has already demonstrated that he can completely neutralize Chet Holmgren, and the Spurs also have the guard depth to match up with Oklahoma City. In Game 2, Wembanyama scored over 35 points with 5 blocks and 2 steals in one of the most impressive two-way performances of the entire NBA playoffs. Additionally, Dylan Harper comes off the bench with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists to help San Antonio tie the series upon returning home.

Game 3: San Antonio Spurs 108, Oklahoma City Thunder 105

In the first Western Conference Finals home game for the franchise since May 22, 2017, we are expecting a noisy atmosphere at Frost Bank Center. This is another rivalry game where we see bad blood spill over in an electric atmosphere between the Spurs and Thunder. While Oklahoma City is generally a team that avoids mistakes, last year’s NBA Finals showed that they can experience a few misses and turnovers. Against a well-coached team like San Antonio, who also has the length and defensive versatility to put pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander and close down passing lanes, we think the Spurs come out on top at home. San Antonio takes a 2–1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals, with Wembanyama averaging nearly 30 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks per contest.

Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder 116, San Antonio Spurs 110

In a key game on the road, Oklahoma City’s playoff experience keeps them from being on the brink of elimination. Jalen Williams should be over the rust by now since his return, giving the Thunder a bucket-getter who can take over games. With so much defensive pressure on SGA, Williams repeated his standout performance from last year’s NBA Finals with over 35 points, including five three-pointers. It’s Williams’ resurgence and some clutch minutes off the bench that allow the Thunder to even the series by capturing Game 4 in San Antonio.

Game 5: San Antonio Spurs 120, Oklahoma City Thunder 113

We expect this Spurs vs. Thunder showdown in the Western Conference Finals to be a regular thing in the years to come. In our view, a theme of this rivalry will be finding ways for Oklahoma City and San Antonio to pick up wins on the road. That’s what we expect in Game 5, this time with De’Aaron Fox leading the way with a double-double. The Spurs had five players (Fox, Wembanyama, Harper, Stephen Cassel, and Keldon Johnson) score double figures, giving San Antonio its second win in the series.

Game 6: Oklahoma City Thunder 114, San Antonio Spurs 104

We’re giving San Antonio a chance to wrap up the Western Conference Finals at home in Game 6. It will not be removed. While Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar third quarter performance will effectively put the Spurs away in this one, it’s going to be a breakout game from Chet Holmgren (22 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks) that proves to be the difference maker early on. Oklahoma City won Game 6, its largest point differential in the entire seven-game series.

Game 7: Oklahoma City Thunder 111, San Antonio Spurs 109

Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals will determine who will be crowned NBA champion this season. This is because both San Antonio and Oklahoma City are a level higher than either team coming from the Eastern Conference. In this winner-take-all game, the Spurs came out of the gate in a hostile environment and trailed by double digits in the second quarter. A few halftime adjustments and a highly motivated Vembanyama are a recipe for a comeback. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein will have no answer when Wembanyama stakes his claim to be the best player in the NBA right now. This makes for a tight game in the final minutes. Once again, Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up to the plate. We’re projecting a 40-burger in Game 7 for SGA, including double-digit points in the fourth quarter to help the Thunder win the Western Conference Finals.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The second round of the NBA Playoffs ended on Monday night, with the New York Knicks earning an emphatic win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

This takes us to the NBA games today, with a Game 1 matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. With two great bouts on deck, we’re making some predictions for each contest.

Donovan Mitchell downed 30-burgers

The Pistons will bring a level of physicality that could result in some game-to-game inconsistency for Donovan Mitchell. However, they do not have a standout defender like Scotty Barnes who can really cause problems for them. Mitchell averaged nearly 21 shots per game in the first-round series and we should see a similar amount in Game 1. We are projecting him to score over 32 points tonight, he will be the only Cavaliers player to score 20 points.

Detroit Pistons beat Cavaliers in Game 1

While Mitchell will do his best to help the Cleveland Cavaliers get a Game 1 win on the road, it’s going to be a one-man operation. Both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will struggle with the physicality provided in Detroit’s frontcourt with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. We also see that James Harden had an outing in which he turned it over 7 times while making only four shots. It would be relatively close in the fourth quarter, but Detroit won it.

• Prediction: Detroit Pistons 116, Cleveland Cavaliers 108

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reaches 50 points

We think there’s a chance we’ll see a 50-point game tonight. The Los Angeles Lakers have no answer for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensively. As highlighted by The Athletic’s Law Murray, SGA scored 83 points and shot 55.2 percent from the field against Los Angeles in the regular season. He’s willing to take more than 20 shots if necessary and it’s almost a lock that he’ll get to the free-throw line more than 10 times. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on national television, SGA scored more than 48 points.

OKC Thunder blow out LA Lakers in Game 1

With Luka Doncic out, it looks like this is the only one-sided matchup in the NBA Conference Semifinals. The Lakers are relying heavily on Austin Reaves, who is recovering from injury, and 41-year-old LeBron James to carry this team forward. It worked against Houston, but is not going to have any success against a Thunder team that is deeper, better coached and more well-developed. Playing at home in Game 1, Oklahoma City would effectively win. When it’s over, the only question will be whether the Thunder will have to deal with rust in the next round since it will be a short series.

• Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 122, Los Angeles Lakers 95

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A notable NBA expert detailed a major problem with the Oklahoma City Thunder that has them seemingly dethroned by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Playoffs.

After winning the franchise’s first NBA championship last spring, the Thunder had a big target on their back. However, because they have reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a core that is still very young, there were questions about whether any team was good enough to defeat them this season.

Well, as the campaign progressed, it became clear that Spurs could be strong enough to dethrone the champions. Victor Wembanyama is developing into an absolute monster, and San Antonio also has a talent-rich young core. Furthermore, the Spurs are 4-1 against the Thunder this season.

However, OKC star Jalen Williams missed many of those games and has only played in 33 this season. Certainly, now that he’s back healthy, the Thunder will look like the team that won it all last year. Or maybe not.

Is Jalen Williams a bust in 2025-26?

On Saturday, Yahoo Sports NBA expert Kevin O’Connor posted an interesting video on why this isn’t the same Thunder team as last year, and that’s because Williams isn’t playing like he did in 2024-25 when he had a huge role in their trip to the championship.

O’Connor says Williams’ evolution from a mid-range specialist to a dangerous three-point shooter was really important for OKC last year. His long range shooting had to be respected by the opponents. However, their number has been significantly reduced to three in 2025-26.

Last year, he was shooting 37%, but that has dropped to 30% this season. Furthermore, he is back to his mid-range game and is taking very few shots from long distance. Additionally, he is shooting 41% from the field, down from 46% last season.

NBA insiders speculate that the injuries that have limited him all year — recovering from offseason wrist surgery and hamstring problems — could have a big impact on his approach to offense. He claims he is very concerned that the player from last spring needs to return if the Thunder are to get back to the Finals.

The report opens the door to further speculation that Spurs are set for an unexpected finals run this spring.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New York Knicks battled the Oklahoma City Thunder for three quarters, but walked away with another disappointing loss, 111-100, with a long list of what-ifs. It wasn’t about the effort. Jalen Brunson again played brilliantly and the defense competed for long periods of time.

But when you look at the numbers and the key moments, there are two things most responsible for this loss, and both can be completely fixed if the Knicks are serious about making noise in the playoffs.

CT disparity and Knicks’ ill-discipline

The first thing to start with is free throws, because that’s where this game was really lost. The Thunder hit 38 free throw shots. The Knicks made 17 shots. That’s a 21‑try difference and an 18‑point difference on the line in an 11‑point loss.

New York already ranks near the bottom of the league in free throw attempts per game, and it showed again. Instead of attacking the rim and forcing OKC to commit fouls, the Knicks resorted to jumpers while getting to the other end and getting pucks.

Mike Brown also acknowledged this: “It was a hard-fought ball game, but the thing I was most disappointed with was the energy we used on the officials. They shot 38 FTs. Were all of them legal? IDK. Some of them were because we overreached,” according to James L. Edwards of The Athletic.

This is where disappointment is justified. The Thunder are smart and experienced at making contact, but the Knicks played right into their hands. Karl-Anthony Towns’ flagged-1 on Chet Holmgren early in the third was the perfect example.

You can’t give free points and extra possessions to a good team and then complain about the whistle. Until the Knicks get mentally stronger, play defense without drawing fouls, and put more pressure on the rim themselves, games like this will continue to get out of hand.

The Knicks bench was a complete ghost

If CT was the first problem, the bench was the second. New York did not get a single bench point until Jose Alvarado’s three-pointer with 6:45 left in the second quarter. This is embarrassing for a team with playoff hopes. While OKC’s second unit brought the energy, pressure and scoring, the Knicks’ bench gave them almost nothing except missed shots, careless fouls and turnovers.

This is where criticism should be brutal. The starters did enough to give the Knicks a chance. Brunson, Hart, Bridges and Towns continued to pull the team back into the game. But every time the bench came on, the energy was gone and the scoreboard was against New York.

If this team is to be taken seriously, the bench needs to stop being a problem that starters are asked to fix and start becoming a real advantage. Right now, it’s the opposite, and that’s a big reason the Knicks came out of this with another avoidable loss.

RELATED: NY Knicks Legend Tells the Brutal Truth About Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The Boston Celtics delivered one of their best performances of the season in a 119–109 victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Boston snapped the league’s longest active streak of 12 wins, pushing itself to 48–24 for the season.

The impressive manner in which the win was accomplished was also acknowledged by Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who claimed his team was on a different level according to a post on X by Daniel Donabedian.

Joe Mazzulla explained how he thought the Celtics contributed to their win tonight:

“I like the fact that we brought physicality. I like the fact that we brought our offensive organization. I like that we executed. I like that we took it to a different level defensively.” pic.twitter.com/oQVzqGDkhL

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 26 March 2026

“I like the fact that we brought physicality. I like that we brought our offensive organization. I like that we executed. I like that we took it to a different level defensively,” Mazzulla said.

After trailing by nearly 13 points in the first quarter and shooting only 29.2% early on, the Celtics proceeded to methodically flip the script. The turning point came early in the fourth quarter, where a 20–11 run turned a five-point lead into a 14-point lead (108–94).

Six different players contributed to that surge. Despite this, Jaylen Brown was once again the main man, finishing with 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Jayson Tatum, who has become stronger since returning from injury, had 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, going 3-6 from beyond the arc. A total of six Boston players scored in double figures, with Peyton Pritchard and Baylor Scheuerman adding 14 and 11 off the bench.

For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 33 points, while also contributing eight assists and two steals. Brown outscored Gilgeous-Alexander 10-7 in the fourth quarter and shot a perfect 3-for-3 in that period, playing a major role in the win.

Despite OKC’s early control, resulting in an 11-point lead after the first quarter, the Celtics struggled as a unit, outscoring the defending champions from beyond the arc as they converted 18 of their 41 three-pointers, compared to 12/37 for the Thunder. Regardless, as Mazzulla claimed, it was Boston’s ability to restrict their opponents that was the major reason behind the victory.

While fans have seen Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCann play some great basketball in his second season, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse isn’t surprised by it. To most NBA fans, the somewhat crowded backcourt resulted in McCann’s departure, leading 76ers fans to question Nurse’s approach amid a difficult season.

McCain working his way back from two injuries slowly gaining momentum With the 76ers before his trade to the Thunder, Nurse explained, according to PHLY Sixers.

The nurse said, “Coming up on 7-for-11 night. He was still dragging the knee brace around for a long time and recovering from an arm injury. I think he was affected by it physically for a long time, but I thought he was coming out of it.” “I was hoping he would start getting back to his big, crazy nights where he can really step up and score a lot.”

With a season-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep, McCann helped lead the Thunder to a 121–92 victory against the Brooklyn Nets before the defending champions extended their winning streak to 11. The Thunder defeated the Washington Wizards 132-111 on Saturday.

McCann has shot a combined 14-30 from beyond the 3-point arc in his last four contests, hitting four threes en route to 18 points in the Thunder’s win against the Wizards.

Jared McCann on the 76ers’ approach versus the Thunder

Following the recent second-year guard’s election offense, fans questioned 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey over Jared McCann’s trade to the Thunder. One of the few similarities McCann mentioned about the Thunder is how 76ers head coach Nick Nurse uses Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to guide his offense.

For McCain, he sees equal two-man game According to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman, he said, between himself and Thunder All-Stars Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams.

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, Joel used to do this with Tyrese, and I was like, ‘Dang, it’s really cool out there,'” McCain said. “So it’s really fun to be able to be a part of it. Playing with Hart, J-Will and Chet, they’re all elite legends. I’m excited to play with them.”

Jared McCain asked if he had played with a big man who could make the screening a major play, like Isaiah Hartenstein:

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, I used to do this with Joel Tyrese and I was like ‘Dang, it’s really cool there.’ So to be able to be a part of it… pic.twitter.com/vTsyiC1P4u

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 17 March 2026

The 76ers will try to snap the Thunder’s 11-game winning streak on Monday.

After the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder were unable to visit the White House due to a “timing issue”, a fight broke out between Ajay Mitchell and Justin Champagne in the first half of the match against the Washington Wizards. Words were exchanged between the Thunder’s Jaylin Williams and Champagnie before Mitchell advanced and the two began brawling on the baseline and in the stands.

Teammates from both the Thunder and Wizards rush to separate your peopleAt the center of it all are Champagne and Michel. The Thunder’s Cason Wallace was also included.

Justin Champagnie and Ajay Mitchell join in 😳pic.twitter.com/ecjEvMay2R

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 21 March 2026

Wallace, earning a double-technical foul, as Williams, Mitchell and Champagnie, joined the trio as all four were ejected from the game.

It took very little time for Jared McCann to carve out a role with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being shipped off to the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline.

McCann helped the Thunder destroy the Brooklyn Nets 121-92 on Wednesday, scoring a game-high 26 points on 9-16 shooting, including five three-pointers. He also had three rebounds and two assists.

With another strong performance from McCann, fans couldn’t help but roast 76ers general manager Daryl Morey for letting the high-scoring guard go.

As a reminder, Morey had said that he was “completely confident” that they were making a “high sell” with the decision to move McCain.

@grandepadre94 said, “Daryl Morey might be the best GM the Thunder have ever had.”

@LobTies said, “We all know Daryl Morey doesn’t like watching Jared McCain play well.”

“Daryl Morey is hellbent on making OKC even better, brother,” Posted @dh__32.

Daryl Morey is going to hell to make OKC even better bro https://t.co/A7s4JTSnXV

— Dar Dar Binks (@dh__32) 19 March 2026

“It’s unbelievable that Daryl Morey still has a job,” @winningdream said.

@JerrySisco8 commented, “Daryl Morey has always been an idiot.”

@BKB639 predicted, “Jared McCann will have a big game in a meaningful playoff series, and we’re all going to talk about how much of an idiot Daryl Morey is.”

When the 76ers sent the 22-year-old playmaker away after particularly impressing in his rookie stint, many were surprised, including McCann himself. In exchange, Philadelphia received four draft picks from Oklahoma City.

McCain missed the first month of his sophomore year due to a right side injury and initially struggled to regain his form, while also seeing a reduced role following the arrival of VJ Edgecombe. Nevertheless, many considered McCain an important asset. But apparently, Morey didn’t see it that way.

This season, the former Duke standout already has four 20-point games with the Thunder, while only one game with the Sixers.

It’s hard to be a Brooklyn Nets supporter these days as they remain near the bottom of the NBA. They are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Brooklyn’s ineptitude was on full display Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center.

It soon became a one-sided affair as the Thunder exerted their power. At halftime, the defending champions were comfortably ahead of the Nets 60–24.

Yes, that is correct. 60-24. Even the man in the White House can’t claim it’s fake news.

Fans at the X were quick to roast the Nets for their low output.

@TGJC1979 said, “The Nets are spending nearly $154 million this season, and have scored 24 points in 24 minutes of professional basketball.”

@dbell983 said, “The Nets need to be investigated. 24 points at halftime in a real game is crooked behavior.”

@EVBettors said, “Bam Adebayo scored more points in his 83-point game in the first quarter than the Nets scored in the first half tonight.”

“The Nets are terrible. I hope they get the top pick,” @Heathh_hayesss posted.

@no_real_id commented, “Adam Silver’s NBA featuring the Nets vs. the Thunder, SMH.”

The Nets recorded their lowest production in the first half since the 1997–1998 season.

They were reportedly willing to trade their best player, Michael Porter Jr., in February as they were potentially aiming for a higher opportunity to get the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.

Brooklyn lost to Oklahoma City, 121–92.

Jalen Wilson led the team with 15 points and five rebounds off the bench. They fell to 17-52, including 9-25 at home.

The Brooklyn Nets will look to snap a four-game losing streak when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. Leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. could return to their lineup for the match after a three-game absence.

Porter is questionable to play against Oklahoma City after missing Brooklyn’s last three games due to an ankle sprain. Head coach Jordi Fernandez said the star forward participated in his first on-court workout on Monday.

Brooklyn has built its offense around Porter’s off-ball movement and elite shotmaking. Porter is averaging a career-high 24.2 points on .463/.363/.859 shooting splits in 52 appearances this season. In the games he missed, the Nets are 3-13.

He has struggled to do anything offensively during his latest absence.

Michael Porter Jr. upgraded to questionable vs. Thunder amid three-game absence

Brooklyn is averaging 96.3 points on 40.1 percent shooting over its last three games, which ranks last in the league in both categories. The rebuilding team has been without several other rotation pieces besides Porter in each loss.

With the Nets out of play-in contention, they have given extended minutes to two-way players Tyson Etienne, EJ Liddell, Chanie Johnson and 10-day signee Malachi Smith over the past week. Trade acquisitions Josh Minot and Ochai Agbaji have also played a heavy role.

Meanwhile, the Thunder have won twelve of their last 13 games as they look to lock down the NBA’s top seed for the second consecutive season. Oklahoma City will be on the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday after defeating the Orlando Magic 113-108 on Tuesday at the Kia Center.

Ben Saraf (left foot soreness) is also doubtful for the Nets on Wednesday. Nolan Traore (right eye strain) and Terrence Mann (left eye strain) are probable.

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic had a golden opportunity to test themselves against the toughest imaginable opponent in today’s NBA – the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Paolo Banchero played his heart out, scoring 32 points on 12-21 shooting from the field, and the rest of the Magic’s starters did their part – Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a game-high plus-19 on the night.

However, Carter did not play 48 minutes. Unfortunately, the Magic had to play their bench that night, which did not perform well at all against the Thunder. Somehow, in just 13 minutes of play, Carter’s backup Mo Wagner was minus 28 in a five-point loss to the Thunder, 113-108.

To put it mildly, the Magic bench did not play well at all and a large portion of the blame for his team losing the game during his minutes should fall on his shoulders. And after the game, head coach Jamahl Mosley was not at all happy with his bench team, as evidenced by his answer when asked how tough their night was.

“You see it,” Mosley said, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

The advantage is that come playoff time, the bench doesn’t have to play as much. But Mosley losing confidence in some of his bench players is not promising for the team’s progress for the remainder of the season.

Magical confidence in Franz Wagner’s eventual return from injury

Young Wagner’s eventual return from an ankle injury will help the Magic. Additionally, the team is missing Anthony Black, forcing Tristan da Silva to start – further thinning the team’s bench core.

There is only less than a month until the playoffs start, so the Magic should have time to better configure their rotation after their bench hampered them in their loss to the Thunder.

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins made one of the boldest calls of the season, and it immediately put Victor Wambayama and the San Antonio Spurs front and center against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Speaking on First Take, Perkins didn’t hold back from discussing the NBA Finals picture. He went beyond praise. He made a prediction that caught the attention of the entire league.

“The San Antonio Spurs are going to win the NBA Championship.”@kendrickperkins Doubles down on Spurs, knocks Thunder out of playoffs pic.twitter.com/g9bs08Wpqw

– First Tech (@FirstTech) 17 March 2026

Perkins said, “You all know how I feel about the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s my home away from home, but damn, I’m going to say it again on national television, the San Antonio Spurs are going to win the NBA championship this year.”

That statement came down hard. This challenged the growing perception that the Thunder were the team to beat in the West. It also elevated a young Spurs group that continues to grow behind Victor Wembanyama.

Perkins did not stop here. He said, “I don’t pay attention to all this, they don’t have experience to talk about.” “They’re going to have home court advantage all the way to the conference finals.” His confidence reflects how San Antonio has played. The energy is real. Trust is being built.

Victor Vembanyama sits at the center of it all. Perkins praised his development as a complete power forward. “I like how he’s found that balance… first of all being a big guy, then being a guy who is a star and a leader in his role,” he said. Growth is visible every night.

However, Spurs are not dependent on any one player. Stephen Cassel has developed into a steady facilitator. Their two-man chemistry continues to improve. “Having Stephen Cassel, they have that,” Perkins explained, pointing to their playoff-ready connection.

Meanwhile, veterans like Harrison Barnes and De’Aaron Fox bring experience and composure. This system is based on what Perkins called “agenda free basketball”. Anyone can move forward. Any moment can change.

So as the race to the NBA Finals heats up, one question now looms large: Are the Spurs really ready to prove Kendrick Perkins right and defeat the Thunder when it matters most?

For the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, March isn’t just about bracket chaos. This is a high-risk scouting mission. As the 2026 NCAA Tournament draws to a close, the basketball world’s eyes have turned to blue-chip stars and Cinderellas alike. However, Sam Presti and his staff are looking for something a little more surgical. They are looking for the final pieces of a dynastic puzzle that has been carefully assembled over years of calculated moves.

In the 2026 NBA Draft cycle, the stakes seem even higher as the talent pool is filled with athletes who fit the Thunder’s unique schematic DNA. This is where dreams are either forged in the fire of the Big Dance or extinguished by the pressure of the bright lights. For a team with the draft capital of Oklahoma City, each March Madness possession is a data point in a much larger, more ambitious blueprint.

title defense

All things considered, the 2025-26 NBA season is still shaping up to be another masterpiece for the Thunder. Apart from the occasional setback, this campaign has been defined by the blanket dominance of their roster. Currently sitting at the top of the standings with an incredible record of 53-15, Oklahoma City has completely transformed into the league’s most fearsome juggernaut. We’ve seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander further cement his status as MVP. He takes charge of a team that ranks first in the NBA in both defensive rating and net rating. Besides him, Chet Holmgren has been a defensive revelation. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams has developed into a secondary playmaker of the highest order.

However, even with the best record in the league and the momentum of the defending champion, the Thunder are never satisfied. Long season experience has shown that OKC’s core is elite. That said, adding more depth on the wing and securing a knockdown perimeter threat could be an insurance policy to ensure this title window remains open for a decade.

lost contact

As we look towards the 2026 NBA Draft, the Thunder’s philosophy remains focused on the concept of positionless basketball. Because they are currently winning at such a high clip, Oklahoma City will pick up a pick in the middle to late part of the first round thanks to previously understood trades. This means Presti is looking for value and high-floor connectors rather than a consensus top three flashy names. When Presti enters the war room, he is looking for players who can grab rebounds, push breaks and make correct guesses without hesitation.

In this upcoming class, the Thunder are likely prioritizing athletes who enhance the talent of those around them while maintaining significant defensive switchability. The goal is to find a prospect who can succeed in the high-low activities that run alongside Chet or perhaps a tenacious point-of-attack defender who can ease the workload on the starting backcourt. This will ensure the bench remains just as lethal as the starting five.

Braylon Mullins, Connecticut

Braylon Mullins has emerged as one of the most intriguing names for a team like Oklahoma City. That’s mainly because he addresses the one thing every contender can never have enough of: elite girth gravitas. As a standout for UConn, Mullins has spent the season proving that he is more than a catch-and-shoot threat. He has shown an advanced ability to navigate screens and move at a pace that keeps defenders in a constant state of panic. For the Thunder, Mullins represents an ideal plug-and-play asset. He can fit into the second unit and immediately provide spacing that allows SGA and Jalen Williams to operate in the paint with zero interference.

They’ll be shot under a split microscope in the pressure cooker of March Madness. However, it is his underrated defensive tenacity and blue-collar approach to the game that truly reflects the OKC culture. If he can maintain his efficiency while leading a deep tournament run with the Huskies, he becomes almost an ideal mid-round target.

Braden Burries, Arizona

There is perhaps no player in the mid-round conversation who fits the OKC archetype more naturally than Brayden Burries. Arizona’s versatile guard has a game defined by poise and technical proficiency. Burris is a player who has a strong frame that allows him to absorb contact on drives and a high release point that makes his mid-range game nearly vulnerable. What makes him a mouth-watering prospect for Oklahoma City is his dual-threat ability as both a scorer and secondary initiator. He has the vision to find open teammates when defenses collapse. This trait fits perfectly into Mark Daigneault’s “everyone is a passer” system.

During this tournament, scouts will be paying close attention to how he handles specific physical defenders. However, Burris has already shown the ability to perform well in big moments. He manages the game with a level of maturity that is rare for his class. This makes him exactly the kind of high-ceiling, low-volatility prospect the Thunder have successfully developed in the past.

Keaton Wagler, Illinois

If the Thunder are looking for a defensive disruptor, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler is a sleeper pick. Every savvy analyst keeps him on his radar. Wagler has built a reputation as a player who has the lateral quickness to block lead guards and the length to harass wing scorers. This would make him a seamless addition to an OKC defense that is already one of the best in the league. However, it’s not just his point-of-attack defense that impresses. He has also shown a growing offensive game featuring smart cuts and a reliable corner three-pointer. This makes him a quintessential 3-and-D prospect with great playmaking.

In the high-stakes environment of March Madness, Wagler’s ability to shut down an opponent’s best player while contributing to a fluid offensive flow will be his biggest selling point. An attribute that matches perfectly with the unselfish, tough identity that has turned Oklahoma City into the gold standard of the modern NBA.

On Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their fourth consecutive loss with a road loss against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Although it did not immediately derail, the Timberwolves ultimately could not keep up with their 2025 Western Conference Finals opponents, and their freefall in the playoff standings continued.

One positive side of this game was that power forward Julius Randle was able to bounce back from a recent poor shooting slump, shooting an impressive 11-18 from the field after a recent game against the Golden State Warriors in which he had to sit on the bench.

Before the game on Sunday, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch explained how he planned to help Randle get back on track.

According to John Krawzinski of The Athletic, Finch said, “I’ve got to direct the ball more to the spots where he’s really good.” “I think we’ve gone away from that at times. I think that will definitely help him. Also, we’ll have to be a little more open-minded to each other. I think that will help, too.”

After the game, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who spent a relatively quiet afternoon in Oklahoma City, talked about the silver lining of Randle’s bounce-back effort.

“It was a lot of fun to watch,” Edwards said. “We were just trying to get it to him as much as possible. He found his rhythm tonight, and hopefully that continues.”

Randall himself also talked about the relief he felt at being out of the recession.

“It definitely felt good to see the ball go in a little bit more today,” Randle said. “Just stay focused and consistent.”

If the Timberwolves want to continue their streak of deep playoff runs, and maybe even make it this far, Randle will have to step up his game.

The Timberwolves next play on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

Anthony Edwards was critical of himself after the Minnesota Timberwolves struggled in their 116-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday afternoon.

In 37 minutes of action, Edwards finished with a stat line of 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. However, he committed six turnovers while shooting 6 of 17 from the field, including 2 of 5 from beyond the arc and 5 of 10 from the free-throw line.

Edwards reflected on the loss with reporters in the locker room after the game. He blamed himself for the mistakes he made against the Oklahoma City defense, including turnovers and a lack of shooting efficiency.

Edwards said, “I had a lot of turnovers myself. I didn’t make enough shots. I don’t think it had anything to do with my team. Especially myself. I had a lot of turnovers and didn’t make enough shots. It’s just that simple. Like I said it’s an AAU defense… it’s on me. I know what they’re going to do defensively, so it’s on me to turn the ball over.”

Anthony Edwards takes accountability after Thunder loss and says OKC plays ‘AAU’ defense:

“I had too many turnovers myself. I didn’t make enough shots. I don’t think it had anything to do with my team. More to do with me. I had too many turnovers and didn’t make enough shots. It’s… pic.twitter.com/yyDN6I0HuA

– NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) 15 March 2026

Anthony Edwards, how the Timberwolves played against the Thunder

Anthony Edwards is generally prominent as one of the top stars in the NBA. However, his troubles against an elite Thunder team will be a lesson for him and the Timberwolves moving forward.

Four players scored in double figures for Minnesota during the loss, including Edwards. Julius Randle led the team with a stat line of 32 points, seven rebounds, six assists and one block. He made 11 of 18 shots overall, including 3 of 5 from downtown and 7 of 8 from the charity stripe. Ayo Dosunmu was next with 18 points and four rebounds, while Donte DiVincenzo provided 16 points and nine rebounds.

Minnesota fell to a 41–27 record on the season, finishing sixth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers while trailing the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

The Timberwolves will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the Suns as tip-off takes place on March 17 at 8pm ET.

On Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their fourth consecutive loss with a road loss at the hands of the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Although the Timberwolves led at halftime and controlled things well in the third quarter, things quickly fell apart from there, as Anthony Edwards struggled during a relatively quiet scoring night.

It was a particularly brutal game for Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert, who scored just two points and grabbed seven rebounds, finishing the night with a -23 in the box score.

Needless to say, fans on X, formerly Twitter, were having a blast at the much-maligned big man’s expense.

“gobert The most hilarious player on offense, straight up idol,” one fan wrote.

“Rudy gobert Not good offensively, he’s all over the place,” added another.

However, other users came to Gobert’s defense amid the harsh performance.

“I find it ridiculous how much Wolves fans hate gobert And want to kick him out of their team but that’s why they struggle every year. Without him they have zero security,” one fan said.

In fact, Gobert is a double-edged sword for Minnesota at times, as he is the obvious anchor of their defensive unit and consistently makes up for other players’ shortcomings on that end of the field, but generally offers nothing from an offensive skills perspective.

Some of Gobert’s notable mistakes over the years, as well as his frequent bullying from former players like Shaquille O’Neal, have made him an easy target for internet trolls looking to increase social media engagement.

However, there is certainly some validity to the notion that Gobert’s lack of offensive skills could present a major challenge for the Timberwolves, especially against elite teams like Oklahoma City.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch had some words for the officials after Sunday’s 116-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards was cleared to play in a matinee on the road, Minnesota trailed in the final frame, where the Thunder outscored their opponent 36–27.

In the second half, the Thunder took a two-point lead amid a tough contest. Then, Edwards fouled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a 3-point play, turning Oklahoma City’s 13-point lead into a 16-point lead. According to Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza, he said, Finch did not back down from his complaint with the officials related to Edwards’ serious foul on Gilgeous-Alexander.

“The first one was probably a foul. What was unfortunate was they called a little grab on the inbounds play. It’s going on all over the place,” Finch said. “I still maintain that he doesn’t get as much respect defensively as he should. If you watch his guys play defense, they get caught a lot, which is OK. That’s part of the game. Then, you call him out – take him straight out of the game – that was tough for us.”

A reporter’s follow-up question focused on Isaiah Hartenstein, who returned to the Thunder’s lineup from a calf injury, and the starting center’s impact from the top of the key, where he did his damage passing and setting screens.

“We fell behind them a little bit,” Finch said. “Back then, we weren’t in a position to make emergency assists, you know. Had to struggle through those screens. We know he’s a playmaker. That’s what he does. Thought some of them were highly questionable whether they were legal or not, it didn’t matter. Got to struggle and you had to miss them.”

Edwards, who spent time in front of Gilgeous-Alexander all day, finished with 19 points on 6-for-17 shooting, including 2 of 5 from deep, six rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal against the Thunder.

Julius Randle, Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves fall short

While the final score between the Thunder and Timberwolves showed a 13-point difference, this Western Conference Finals matchup was much more competitive than the scores indicated. Anthony Edwards had a valiant all-around effort on both ends of the floor in the 127-117 win after his 40-point game. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch just wants his team not to fall behind.

However, the Thunder showed their depth around All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20 points) and Chet Holmgren (21 points), who combined to score 41 points, while Isaiah Joe scored 20 of the Thunder’s 61 points off the bench. Alex Caruso added 17 points, and Jared McCain connected on five 3-pointers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is on the injury report again with right knee soreness.

Here’s everything we know about Edwards’ playing status.

Anthony Edwards’ game status against the Thunder

Edwards has been dealing with a long-standing knee problem but hasn’t missed any time. The Timberwolves star was also listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, but he played and finished with 42 points in the loss. The knee certainly didn’t bother him much in that 127-117 win.

Edwards told The Athletic’s Sam Amick after the win over the Warriors that he’s fine, and Timberwolves insider John Krawczynski of The Athletic expects him to play in Sunday’s game. Given the high-profile opponent on national TV, it’s a good bet that Edwards will suit up.

Minnesota is also vying for a spot in a crowded Western Conference playoff picture. The Timberwolves are 41–26, good for fifth place in the West. The Wolves are one game behind the third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, half a game behind the Houston Rockets and half a game ahead of the Denver Nuggets. Perhaps most importantly, Minnesota is two games ahead of the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns.

Edwards is having another standout season, averaging a career-high 29.7 points while posting career-best shooting percentages of 49.4% overall and 40.2% from 3-point range. So, when the question comes whether Anthony Edwards is playing against the Thunder today, the answer is probably yes.

timberwolves injury report

Aside from Edwards, all of the other Timberwolves included on the injury report are G Leaguers.

• Jon Berninger (out, G League – on assignment)
• Anthony Edwards (doubtful, injury/illness – sore right knee)
• Enrique Freeman (out, G League – two-way)
• Julian Phillips (out, G League – on assignment)
• Zion Pullin (Out) G League – Two-Way)

thunderbolt injury report

The Thunder are still without Jalen Williams, while starting center Isaiah Hartenstein is questionable with a calf injury.

• Brooks Barnheiser (Out, G League – Two-Way)
• Brandon Carlson (out, injury/illness – lower back strain)
• Isaiah Hartenstein (doubtful, injury/illness – left calf; injury)
• Thomas Sorber (out, injury/illness – right ACL; surgical recovery)
• Nicola Topic (out, G League – on assignment)
• Jalen Williams (out, injury/illness – right hamstring)

Timberwolves-Thunder kick off at 1pm ET.

The Boston Celtics were in a primetime matchup with another top team in the Western Conference after losing to the San Antonio Spurs a few nights earlier. This time, they had the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they could not win this one either and lost 104–102.

Jaylen Brown played until the end in this game after being ejected against the Spurs for arguing with the referees about a foul call. After this game, he shared that he was mostly satisfied with how the game was called as he went to the free-throw line 14 times, but he felt he could have gone more in the fourth quarter after some hard drives.

Brown then said that maybe he should have flopped to get those calls, and although he didn’t mention Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s name, some believe he might be calling the Thunder star.

Brown said, “We applaud the players for playing the game the right way, but we give an advantage to people who try to manipulate the game for their own advantage. I don’t think that’s basketball. All the false allegations… it’s anything to me.”

Brown wouldn’t be the first to say something about Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to get to the free-throw line over the past two weeks. When the Thunder played the New York Knicks recently, Mike Brown had some things to say after the game about how it was handled.

“SGA, that’s a tough cover,” the coach said. “He does a very good job of convincing the refs, probably better than anyone in the league, that he’s getting hit.”

At this point, everything people are saying about Gilgeous-Alexander and dirty talk is not working. The referees are seeing something completely different, and it’s causing them to consistently go to the free-throw line.

Jaylen Brown has expanded his game out of necessity this season, as it was his first season as the undisputed number one option for the Boston Celtics amid Jayson Tatum’s lengthy absence due to an Achilles tendon rupture. Brown has responded with his best season as a professional, and even after Tatum’s return, he remains the foundation and cornerstone of the Celtics, the guy they rely on to take them home on a nightly basis.

On Thursday night, Brown certainly did his part in putting the Celtics in position to win. He answered his team’s call amid the absence of Tatum and Derrick White in a heated battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 34 points, six rebounds and seven assists. While a late-game call that went against the Celtics ultimately cost them a 104-102 loss, it shouldn’t take away from Brown’s efforts.

In fact, Brown has become so dangerous as a playmaker that he has become the first Celtics player since Rajon Rondo in 2014 to record at least seven assists in seven consecutive games, as reported by Taylor Snow of Celtics Stats.

Considering how Rondo is one of the best playmakers in Celtics franchise history, being mentioned in the same sentence as a passer is no mean feat for Brown.

Jaylen Brown has become more than a scorer for the Celtics

Over the years, questions have been raised about Brown’s dribbling and playmaking. The Celtics star has faced criticism for not being able to dribble safely with his left hand and passing has never been one of the biggest strengths of his game.

But being the team’s top dog for most of the season, Brown has had to make the most of the defensive attention he gets on a nightly basis. And he is passing that exam with good marks.

Despite key players missing the contest due to their respective injuries, the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder prepared to battle each other on Thursday night. Going up against the defending champions brought out the best of Jaylen Brown and company; In particular, Brown had an excellent performance in the lead role against the league’s best defense amid the absences of Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, averaging 34 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

However, it all ended in heartbreak for the Celtics; They lost 104–102 after Chet Holmgren was whistled for a foul on an offensive rebound on the Thunder’s final offensive possession.

Boston’s defense had already done its job, forcing Alex Caruso instead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score the game-winning try, but luck was not on Boston’s side, with Sam Hauser being called for a loose ball foul with 0.8 seconds left on the clock and the game tied at 102.

Holmgren made both free throws, and the Celtics could not respond after Peyton Pritchard missed the game-winning attempt from three-point range. Following this, Celtics fans on social media expressed their displeasure at how the clash between the two contenders ended.

celtics fans were angry

Celtics fans did not hide their anger towards the officials, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their feelings. Some believe that the Celtics were not at fault for Holmgren’s fall, which was reportedly caused by his teammate Lou Dortch.

“Celtics got fouled. You can’t foul there,” @A_King_Of_1Self wrote.

@aajalas said, “Lou Dort drew a foul on Chet Holmgren and they blew the whistle to end the game on the Celtics. Classic Thunder.”

@LebronJamesBond added, “That’s a weak way to end the Celtics OKC game. On a melee foul with .8 on the clock that sends Chet to the line.”

“The refs called a foul on the Celtics when Lou Douette fouled his own teammate,” @amwalsh16 reported.

On Thursday evening, the Boston Celtics will take on the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a tough matchup. Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard are suffering from various illnesses. Here’s everything we know about the injury status of Boston’s three most important players.

Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (Get access save $30)*

Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Peyton Pritchard’s playing status vs. OKC

Jayson Tatum is currently listed as questionable on the injury report for the Thunder matchup due to ongoing Achilles injury management. Tatum has played in three games since returning from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs, and so far has performed about as well as fans have expected. Some have theorized that Boston may have kept him out of Thunder games to avoid playing against Lou Dort, who has gained a reputation for injuring opposing star players.

Peyton Pritchard is listed as probable for Boston due to neck spasms after missing his last game against the San Antonio Spurs, while Derrick White is considered questionable with a right knee injury.

Meanwhile, for the Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein will be out of the lineup with a left calf injury, with Jalen Williams also out with a strained right hamstring.

The Celtics are currently ranked number two in the Eastern Conference, and have been playing well since Tatum’s return last week. In their last game against the Spurs, Boston saw star Jaylen Brown controversially ejected in the first half, and despite ultimately putting up a valiant effort, they ran out of gas during the game.

They will need all the help they can get against defending champions Thunder, who are back in form after a brief spell of trouble earlier this season.

Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 pm ET.

The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder are set for one of the biggest matchups of the season on Thursday evening. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, remain in the West standings as the regular season campaign concludes. Meanwhile, the Celtics are business as usual, with Jaylen Brown elevating his play to an MVP-caliber level. But the highly anticipated clash comes with a worrying injury report for the Celtics.

The Celtics released their injury report, with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White both questionable for the matchup. While White is dealing with a right knee injury, Tatum is managing his comeback from his right Achilles injury. While Tatum and White haven’t been completely ruled out, both of their losses could be a blow to the Celtics as they look to take on the reigning NBA champions.

Tatum has been effective in his return from his Achilles injury. Although obviously not putting up his typical MVP stats, he still averaged 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He stepped up in a big way for Boston on Tuesday after Jaylen Brown exited the game late in the second quarter. Tatum had 24 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 125–116 loss in 27 minutes of play.

White has been a constant in the Celtics lineup. Playing 63 games this season, he has averaged 17.5 points, 5.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. With both White and Tatum out of the lineup, getting a win in Thursday’s game against Oklahoma City could be a tough task.

There was another tense moment between Nikola Jokic and Luguentz Dort following the Denver Nuggets’ heartbreaking 129-126 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, courtesy of a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander game-winner.

Dort accidentally slapped the Nuggets star in the face while trying to steal a screen from Jokic. Jokic then fell to the ground and remained there for a long time and officials eventually called a flagrant foul on the Thunder wing.

What made this conversation so interesting was the fact that Dort had also blatantly fouled Jokic in their previous matchup. No Nuggets fan will soon forget how Dort intentionally headed back in Jokic’s direction in an attempt to knock him down, sparking a near-all-out brawl between the Northwest Division rivals.

But after the game, Jokic did not believe that unlike in the past, Dort had crossed the line that time.

“No, (he didn’t cross the line),” Jokic said after the game, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “It was over from last time.”

Jokic is not a player to hold grudges and he certainly did not do so against Dort. Considering how heated the games between the Thunder and Nuggets are, it’s all part of competing against the best.

Nuggets star Nikola Jokic holds no grudge against Lu Dort

Dort drew a lot of criticism after his flagrant foul on Jokic in the Thunder’s win over the Nuggets on February 27. But he apologized for hitting Jokic in the face this time, and unlike last time, it was very unintentional and an unfortunate consequence of his attempt to get on the big screen.

The Nuggets star is letting bygones be bygones be the way to move forward, especially if they are to lock in and really focus on getting over the Thunder’s hump.

The Denver Nuggets suffered a painful 129-126 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Monday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivering the killer blow with his game-winning three-pointer.

The Nuggets have now dropped all three of their games against the Thunder this season.

Gilgeous-Alexander had another MVP-type performance with 35 points, nine rebounds, 15 assists, one steal and one block. He had no turnovers.

Christian Braun, who was tasked with protecting the SGA, admitted he didn’t do his job well, as The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando reports.

“He busted me tonight. That last game, I knew I played well and got a block in a big moment. Tonight, he made a shot in a big moment. He made a couple of them. I know I’m going to play him again. I’m going to play him in the playoffs,” Braun said.

Durando said the 24-year-old guard told his teammates he was to blame for their tough loss.

“When I do a good job on him (Gilgeous-Alexander), like I did (in the last game), we have a good chance to win those games. But tonight, I wasn’t that good. He’s 14 for 21. Whenever he’s that efficient, they’ll have a better chance to win,” Braun said.

The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 127-121 in overtime last month. SGA scored 36 points on 12-of-29 shooting, including 0-3 from beyond the arc. This was his first game after being sidelined for a long time due to an abdominal strain.

Bron played 38 minutes on Monday, the second-most on the Nuggets behind Nikola Jokic’s 40 minutes. Focusing mostly on defense, he scored only four points on six attempts. He added nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.

The Nuggets will face the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

NEW YORK — In the visitors’ locker room at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams called attention to the massive smile on Jared McCain’s face.

“He’s so happy,” Williams said.

Williams addressed McCain directly: “What are you so happy about?”

“We won!” McCain said.

Oklahoma City had just eked out a 103-100 victory against the New York Knicks, improving to a league-best 49-15. It had also improved to 9-3 since acquiring McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missing nine of those games and Williams missing 10.

“Oh, you played in Philly, you’re not used to that shit,” Williams said.

“What do you mean?” McCain responded. “They’re like sixth in the East.”

The truth is that McCain is as cheerful a character as you’ll find in the NBA. Regardless of the situation he’s in, he tries to “turn it into a positive,” he told me. And in his first month with the Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, there was a lot to smile about.

McCain has played 12 games for his new team, and he has scored at least 20 points in three of them. The 6-foot-3 guard has averaged 11.9 points in 19.2 minutes per game on 47/41/90 shooting splits, flying off screens and knocking down midrange jumpers and 3s with the same pep in his step that he had before his knee injury last season, at which point he was the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

76ers’ trade deadline mismanagement is latest own goal for franchise that can’t get out of its own way

John Gonzalez

To be clear, McCain never wanted to leave the Sixers. He was “completely blindsided” by the trade, he said. He is “really grateful,” though, to have landed with Oklahoma City for a number of reasons.

McCain loves the way that the Thunder play. “This offense is amazing,” he said, praising the team’s collective chemistry and unselfishness. He loves playing off Isaiah Hartenstein, the big man Gilgeous-Alexander described as a “dream” to play with after just two regular-season games last season.

“It’s being able to find where I want the ball but also find my man after he passes the ball, when he drops the passes,” McCain said. “Or being able to just pitch it and then come off. Just that little bit of space is all a shooter needs to get something off. And if I got a little bit of an advantage, I know I can either get to the bump mid or get to a 3.”

He loves the way that coach Mark Daigneault thinks. Anyone who has been around the team has heard Daigneault talk about being present, having a 0-0 mindset and resilience being a muscle you can build. McCain is a devoted re-reader of “The Inner Game of Tennis” — when I mentioned the book, he showed me the copy he had in his bag — and has practiced meditation and visualization since he was in high school. 

“When you can mesh like that with a coach, it’s really awesome,” McCain said, recalling his first meeting with Daigneault and general manager Sam Presti before the 2024 draft.

“Being able to just talk to them about, ‘How is Shai so good?’ It was process-oriented, the daily habits,” McCain said. “It’s the consistency, the discipline. That’s all stuff that I love. I love that ‘Atomic Habits,’ the ‘1% Better,’ the do one thing, get really good at it, then focus on the next thing. It’s been really cool to just have conversations with them, get to know ’em, because it’s the same mindset I have.”

Early in McCain’s sixth game with the Thunder, he ran a throw-and-go with Hartenstein, drove baseline, kicked the ball out to Cason Wallace and then relocated for an open 3. If one possession demonstrates his promise, it’s this one. He is a threat with the ball in his hands and can be an even bigger threat when he gets rid of the ball.

For all of the people who started launching deep 3s because of Stephen Curry, few NBA players have tried to blend off-the-dribble shooting with off-ball movement the way he does. McCain said that, because he idolized and studied Curry — and because he played next to elite ballhandlers at Centennial High School and Duke — he has always tried to get involved in the game through movement, rather than “just standing in the corner waiting for something to happen.” He knew, coming into the NBA, that this would make him stand out. He also knew that, as a defender, your instinct is to relax when the guy you’re guarding makes a pass.

“You stop and you look at the ball,” McCain said. “You’re taught that. It’s basically once your guy gets in the paint and he passes the ball out, you can kind of be in help. But once you’re able to just get back out quick and take those backpedal shots or get-out-quick shots, those are the ones that are some of my favorites.”

With not only Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams but guard Ajay Mitchell sidelined when he arrived, McCain has given OKC a timely spark. Daigneault said that McCain has played his game with confidence while having respect for the Thunder’s continuity and what they’ve accomplished.

“That’s a very fine needle to thread,” Daigneault said. “The last guys that did that well were Hartenstein and Alex [Caruso], but they did it in the preseason with a build-up. And they’re veteran players. It’s a huge testament to him. He’s found that balance right off the bat. He’s earned a lot of respect from everybody because of that.”

NBA Power Rankings: Knicks back in top five after getting defensive, Nuggets sliding and Wolves lurking

Brad Botkin

Daigneault also said, though, that it would have been fine if McCain had gotten off to a rough start. “You don’t know, when you trade for a guy, how they’re going to integrate,” he said. For the Thunder, this has been a process of “discovery” — they’re not trying to fit him into a specific role, but letting his role emerge naturally.

“We’re just kind of like throwing him out there,” Daigneault said, “and telling him to play inside the team and telling him kind of the non-negotiable things, the fundamental things that everybody has to do. And then give him a level of breathing room around that to figure out how to play, have his teammates figure out how he can play with them.”

As challenging as it is to drop everything, move to a different city and try to adapt to a new team in the middle of a season, there can be something psychologically freeing about being traded. For McCain, there has been a lot to learn, but there has been no expectation that he would pick it all up immediately. This environment, so far, has been ideal.

“They allow me to be myself,” McCain said. 

Before the trade, McCain did not always feel or look like himself on the court this season. Coming off a torn UCL in his right thumb and a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, he tried to shake off almost a year’s worth of rust on a team that was winning games and had a much more crowded backcourt than it did before he got hurt. 

On the first anniversary of his 34-point game as a rookie, he shot 3 for 10 in his first G League game. There were some encouraging moments — he caught fire in a back-to-back against Charlotte and Milwaukee in late January — but, in 37 games for the Sixers, he averaged just 6.6 points on 50.6% true shooting.   

“I have nothing bad to say about none of the teammates, none of the coaches, but it’s just hard to find a rhythm playing with really great players and getting little short spurts,” McCain said. “There were a few games, for sure, that I felt great. I feel like those were the ones where I got to play a little extended minutes, play through some mistakes.”

McCain said it’s “nobody’s fault” that he didn’t consistently find his form in Philly. “I knew it was going to take time,” he said. “It’s even still taking time. I feel great right now, but sometimes, you know, some days are better than others.”

With Tyrese Maxey playing at an All-NBA level and rookie VJ Edgecombe looking like a star in the making, McCain “wasn’t thinking about a trade at all,” he said. He was confident that his opportunities would come and that he could grow alongside them.

“I definitely thought it could work,” McCain said. “Long-term, I definitely think it could work. I loved playing with them. It was really fun. And I’m going to miss it, too. So I think there was definitely potential there, but they made the best decision for what they thought it was and we’ve just gotta live with it and kind of move on.”

Philadelphia sent him to Oklahoma City for a first-round pick and two seconds. He is aware that a large portion of the Sixers’ fanbase was upset. In the moment, he was too.

“I’m right there with the fans,” McCain said. “I was scared, man. I didn’t know. I was emotional with it, it was a lot going on and it was hard to process. So I’m forever still grateful for Philly. It’s always hard. Like, you don’t get to say goodbye. It’s really like a breakup.”

The call from Sixers general manager Daryl Morey was to the point. Afterward, he flew with the rest of the team from San Francisco to Los Angeles as scheduled, shedding tears as he got on the plane. While everybody else had a game against the Los Angeles Lakers the next day, he flew from L.A. to OKC. 

“They call you and it’s just so, like, cold, almost,” McCain said. “It’s like, damn. They drafted me. It just feels like it just ended so quickly. The call that you get traded is, like, ‘Hey, we just traded you,’ and that’s kind of it. So it’s really, it’s almost sad. It’s really sad. It really is sad. Like, I’m an emotional person. I really, like, I love all those people over there, like the staff, like the medical staff, the coaching staff. The teammates, like, those are like my brothers. I really looked up to a lot of ’em and hung out with all of ’em. It’s sad that you don’t see ’em every day.”

At a press conference the day after the trade deadline, Morey called McCain “a great future bet and a potential great player,” but also said that he thought the team was “selling high” and was better off with the draft picks, which he described as more than a typical return for a starter-level player on a good team. Morey’s transparency only amplified the discussion around the deal, which basically boiled down to how to properly value a player who was about to turn 22.

“It’s really weird sometimes, like, hearing people talk about what you’re ‘worth,'” McCain said. “And it’s because I’m really, you know — there’s a human aspect to it that a lot of people skip over. So hearing stuff that he said in the media, it’s like, ‘Damn. Is that how you really felt?’ ‘Cause I feel like I treated everybody with respect and love. So it’s definitely tough to hear sometimes, but you gotta understand it’s a business and they’re doing what they feel is best.”

McCain described the trade as sad, weird and emotional, but the whirlwind of it all can also be funny. He remembers being “kicked off” Philadelphia’s team-run group chat “pretty immediately.” He needed Gilgeous-Alexander’s help to get into the practice facility in Oklahoma City because he wasn’t set up in the security system yet, as documented on his vlog. He thinks he still has a few black jerseys in the Sixers’ practice facility. At some point, he’ll put away a bunch of Philly gear in his new attic.

“I just moved into my new place and I don’t even know where stuff is right now,” McCain said. “My mom moved me in. I’m going back to the house for the first time. This will be the first time, tonight, when we get back. It’s a lot of stuff that’s very humorous.”

Right after the trade, Kyle Lowry told McCain, “This is supposed to happen.” Seventeen years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Lowry to the Houston Rockets for a first-round pick, having drafted Mike Conley to play his position the previous summer. (Ironically, Morey was the buyer in that transaction.)

“He knows how hard I work, and he just told me, ‘Go do your thing,'” McCain said. “And he’s always there for me if I need him. Really, anybody on that team, like, if I call ’em, I know they’ll be there: Tyrese, Jo, PG, VJ. All of ’em, man. They really helped me. And VJ just called me like two days ago to just talk.”

McCain is looking forward to playing against his former team in Philadelphia on March 23. “I love Philly to death,” he said, “and I’m excited to go back in later March, just to feel the vibes and see all the people again and just say a proper goodbye.” 

Right now, though, he’s doing his best to stay present with the Thunder. “When you take a step back and just kind of look at everything going on, it’s all for good,” he said. “It’s all going to be positive and work out for me.” He’s still getting himself situated in OKC, but he couldn’t be more comfortable with how things are going.

“I’ve loved every moment of it,” McCain said.

While the Golden State Warriors fell just short to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a narrow 114-107 loss on the road, the fact that they got Kristaps Porzingis back on the hardwood is enough to ease the pain of the loss.

After Porzingis missed the last six games due to a mystery illness, the big man finished with nine points, five rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes of action.

In just his second game with the team after the Warriors acquired him at the trade deadline for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, Porzingis, understandably, looked far from the elite, two-way, big man he may be at his ceiling. At times, he seemed to struggle to find his sea legs in the Dubs’ unfamiliar offensive and defensive systems. And the big man looked disappointed after nearly three weeks away from live NBA basketball.

But overall, it was an encouraging step in the right direction for the big man as he played hard, banged in the post and gave Golden State a much-needed threat on offense.

“I thought he looked like a guy who hasn’t played with any rhythm at all,” Kerr said cheekily after the game.

“But I thought he looked good physically. It’s a really encouraging night for him to play 23 minutes. I talked to him after the game, said he felt good. And it was really fun to watch him. You can see what kind of weapon he is, the shape he gives us. Obviously, we are.” [still] Figuring out the combinations, what kind of activities we want to run. With him and for him. It’s going to take some time, but it’s really encouraging to see him there.”

The thing that really seemed encouraging about Porzingis was his ability to force defenses to respond in the post. After losing Jimmy Butler, the Warriors lack a back-to-the-basket threat who can command double-teams. Although it didn’t feel right or intuitive, Porzingis was capable of being that threat. And as he gets his groove back, it’s sure to get even more powerful.

How Kristaps Porzingis feels after a long recovery

Despite encouraging signs in his return, Porzingis still found flaws in his game.

“Today was OK,” Porzingis shrugged. “I’m still feeling a little heavy, the shot wasn’t in good rhythm tonight, and missing some free throws and such. But we’ll build from this game, and I think I’ll get better with each game.”

Porzingis told reporters that his absence from the last six games was “stunning”. [him] But after his health improved over the past week and a workout Thursday before the Houston Rockets game, Porzingis felt comfortable that his body was healthy enough to return against the Thunder.

Whether that will stay healthy is still a question mark, as it has been with Porzingis his entire career. With how vague the details are regarding this recent illness and his ongoing POTS condition, it’s hard to factor him in for the remainder of the season. But Porzingis expressed confidence in his ability to maintain his health going forward.

“Honestly, I’m confident I’ll stay healthy,” Porzingis said. “This is what I really feel. Not to sell anything because I know I’ve been in and out again and again. But this time I really feel that way.”

Porzingis told reporters he didn’t want to go into too much about why he felt confident about being able to stay healthy, but pointed to two things: the fact that he was able to stay healthy last summer abroad during the EuroBasket and the ability of the Warriors’ training staff, especially how in his words they found a solution to this ongoing issue “very quickly.”

“I really believe, as I really, really believe, that I’ll be healthy from this point forward in terms of energy and things like that.”

Other notables

• Gui Santos scored a career-high 22 points with 11 rebounds in the Dubs’ loss. Over the past 10 games, Santos has averaged 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists. After signing a three-year, $15 million extension with a player-option in the final year, Santos is poised to play well above the value of that contract.
• Moses Moody remained out with a right wrist injury. With his right wrist in a small cast, he could be seen shooting with his left hand before the game.
• Seth Curry, who appeared in only two games this season, is expected to return sometime this upcoming week. He had been out of action for the last three months due to sciatica, but got a chance to work out in the pregame in Houston. He and his brother Stephen Curry have yet to share the court on the same team.

The Golden State Warriors face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night and Kristaps Porzingis is once again at the center of the injury report. The Warriors have listed Porzingis as questionable due to illness, putting the focus on the veteran big man as Golden State looks to win back-to-back games.

The Warriors entered the matchup at 32–30, No. 8 in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Thunder are the top seed in the West at 49-15 and are aiming to extend their four-game winning streak. With Oklahoma City playing dominant basketball and the Warriors trying to solidify their position in the playoff race, the importance of Porzingis’ availability has increased. If he plays, it will be just the second game of his Warriors tenure.

Through 18 games this season, he is averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 46.1 percent from the field. The 7-foot-2 center contributes 1.3 blocks per game, providing valuable rim protection and floor spacing.

When Porzingis is available, the Warriors gain a unique frontcourt dimension. His size and perimeter shooting opened up the floor offensively while giving Golden State another defensive presence around the rim.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Kristaps Porzingis’ injury status vs. Thunder

Several additional names are included on the Warriors’ injury report. Stephen Curry is out with right patellofemoral pain syndrome, while Jimmy Butler III is out after right ACL surgery. Seth Curry is listed as questionable with left sciatic nerve irritation. Moses Moody is out with a sprained right wrist, while Gary Payton II is expected with a left ankle injury. De’Anthony Melton and Will Richard are both questionable with knee and ankle injuries, respectively.

For Oklahoma City, the Thunder injury report lists several players out, including Brandon Carlson (lower back strain), Alex Caruso (left hip strain), Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL recovery), and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain). Are.

Still, Porzingis’ status remains one of the most important questions ahead of the matchup. The Warriors hope to build momentum in the Western Conference standings, while the Thunder aim to continue their run at the top of the conference.

So when it comes to the question of whether Kristaps Porzingis is playing tonight against the Thunder, the answer is uncertain. His final status will depend on pre-game evaluation as Golden State prepares for a big test against the top team in the West.

After winning their last game against the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors traveled to Oklahoma City to face the defending champions. However, they have several major injury concerns and face a Thunder team that has won each of its last four games.

Oklahoma City entered Saturday night with a 49-15 record, already knocking on the door of its 50th win of the season, while Golden State is 32-30 and in eighth place in the West.
Mark Daigneault’s side have also won eight of their last 10 games, and have held opponents to 106.5 points per game during that span. Golden State, meanwhile, has struggled for consistency, going 4-6 in its last 10 contests while allowing 116.3 points per game.

These teams have met three times already this season, and the last meeting was a lopsided 131-94 win for the Thunder, fueled by a 30-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The following prospects are based on DraftKings’ coverage.

Warriors vs Thunder Odds

Warriors: +9.5

Thunder: -9.5

Overs: 228.5

Under: 228.5

Warriors vs Thunder Major Injuries

Golden State is entering this matchup heavily shorthanded. Stephen Curry is out with a knee injury. Jimmy Butler (ACL) is out for the season while Moses Moody (wrist) and Seth Curry (back) are also sidelined.

Gary Payton II is questionable with an ankle problem. However, the potential return of Kristaps Porzingis gives them some reason for optimism.

The Thunder are relatively healthy. Jalen Williams is out with a hamstring injury, while Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) and Alex Caruso (hip) are both listed as day-to-day. Thomas Sorber is out for the season with a knee injury.

Warriors vs Thunder Betting Trends

Oklahoma City has a 34–9 record against Western Conference opponents. Recent head-to-head results also favor Oklahoma City. The Thunder have taken Golden State to task already this season, including a blowout 37-point victory in January.

With Shai-Gilgeous Alexander fit and effective, this seems pretty straightforward on paper. However, with the stellar Draymond Green leading the way and Porzingis expected to play, the Warriors can always surprise.

Keys to Warriors vs. Thunder matchup

The biggest challenge for Golden State will be finding enough offensive firepower without Stephen Curry. The Warriors have relied heavily on Brandin Podziemski, who is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games.

The Thunder averaged 118.9 points per game, while also limiting opponents to 43.6% shooting from the field.
Warriors vs Thunder Predictions and Selections

Golden State’s system still produces efficient offense through ball movement and spacing, but without Curry, the Warriors lack the consistent scoring punch needed to keep up with Oklahoma City’s attack. Given the Warriors’ injuries and this huge blow to the reigning NBA champions, we expect a low-scoring game.

spread pick:Thunder -9.5

Total Selection: under 228.5

Kristaps Porzingis has only played one game for the Golden State Warriors since joining the club from the Atlanta Hawks. After missing the last six games due to a mystery illness, Porzingis gets an inspiring update on his condition.

According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, reports indicate the 30-year-old big man was upgraded to questionable on the latest injury report. He’s not guaranteed to play against the Thunder on Saturday, but it’s a great first step in the right direction. Seth Curry, Will Richard, and De’Anthony Melton are all listed as questionable as well.

“Kristaps Porzingis and Seth Curry have been upgraded to questionable for the Warriors last night at Oklahoma City. Both have a chance to return after going through recent on-court work. Will Richard and De’Anthony Melton are also questionable.”

The 10-year veteran has played in just 18 games so far this season (17 with the Hawks, one with the Warriors). In those 18 contests, Porzingis is averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. His field goal percentage is 46.1% while shooting 36.3% from beyond the three-point line.

He missed a large portion of the season due to a prolonged illness, which was initially believed to be postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). In February, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr claimed that Porzingis does not actually have potties. But Kerr quickly walked back those comments, making the whole situation a bit confusing. Either way, Kristaps Porzingis is still battling a mystery illness for several weeks.

The Warriors-Thunder game won’t start until 8:30 pm EST on Saturday. Therefore, Golden State will have most of the day to evaluate Porzingis’ situation and make a final decision.

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks lost 103-100 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, facing a tough challenge from the reigning NBA champions. This was the Knicks’ first success over a top-seeded Western Conference club, having already failed to defeat the East’s number Q seed, the Detroit Pistons, three times.

Despite some notable losses, the Knicks have performed better than last season against top teams under new head coach Mike Brown. The coach did not describe the game as important, but stressed the importance of learning from the match post-match.

“Seeing what they did, how they did it, why we shot 28% from three. Why this happened, why that happened. It’s a great learning experience,” Brown told reporters at Madison Square Garden. “It doesn’t matter if you – you want to win. But it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. And seeing the competitiveness from our guys was something I love, as well as the physicality.”

The process-to-results mentality fits the coach, who uses the regular season as an information-gathering period to get the most out of his personnel in the postseason. He has often said that the Knicks’ regular season losses are treated as learning opportunities, not failed opportunities to compete.

No matter how one spins it, the Knicks’ margin of error in the playoffs continues to shrink. Will these regular season losses become a topic of discussion if the team fails to deliver in the postseason?

The pressure to outperform last season’s Eastern Conference Finals appearance was already intense prior to the season. And with six weeks left in the NBA playoffs, it looks like it’s only going to keep on going.

Final preview? Brown, Daigneault both play it cool

Brown downplayed the significance of the matchup after the game, telling reporters that he believed the regular season “statement games” were contradictory.

The coach said, “I don’t believe in statement games just because in the playoffs, it’s a different season, you know? … They’re one of the elite teams defensively. You can probably get more from that film than a team that might be 29th defensively.”

Mark Daigneault shared a similar sentiment before the game, telling reporters that the Knicks are a “great test” for his Thunder and crediting New York with being one of the best groups in the league. Asked by the coach if he thought of games like Wednesday as a potential Finals preview, he quickly replied that it was still too early in March to have any thoughts about playoff matchups.

Brown clearly values ​​the opportunity for teams like the Thunder to test his Knicks’ ability. However, his zoomed-out approach to these games, viewing them as data points that span a long season as opposed to the confrontation of individual battles, is representative of the exact philosophical shift the Knicks’ front office wanted from their coaching change.

New York will travel to Oklahoma City in late March for the teams’ second and final regular season matchup. After this, one thing is clear whether Daigneault wants to accept it or not. If these teams meet again, it will be in the 2026 NBA Finals.

The Chicago Bulls got some bad news on Tuesday after losing 116-108 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the completion Removed in third quarter Matas Bouzelis received more bad news due to a foot injury.

After the game, head coach Billy Donovan officially confirmed According to Casey Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, Bouzelis suffered a sprained ankle. It came on the Thunder’s end of the floor late in the third quarter. Buzzelis stepped on a player’s foot and fell down. Shortly thereafter, he was seen limping and was taken back to the locker room.

Eventually, Bouzelis returned to the bench, but quickly withdrew and did not play in the fourth quarter. A few minutes earlier, Josh Giddy had rolled his ankle and was seen limping. He was taken out of the game, but remained on the bench. Ultimately, Giddy went back on the floor and finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Additionally, he was one rebound shy of a triple-double with nine rebounds.

On the way, giddy officially tied Derrick Rose is fifth on the Bulls’ all-time list of double-doubles by guards with 51.

Donovan said Bouzelis is day-to-day. Additionally, Donovan said Giddy also has a sprained ankle. Both will be evaluated on Wednesday.

Overall, Bouzelis played 20 minutes and finished with 11 points and five rebounds. The Bulls are now 25-37 and have lost 15 of their last 17 games. Now, the Bulls are set to embark on a five-game road trip. already in chicago Many players in the injured list, Which includes Jalen Smith, Patrick Williams, Anfernee Simmons and Jaden Ivey.

Bouzelis has played 61 games this year and is averaging 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

The Dallas Mavericks will have to finish their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday without one of their key contributors, as Klay Thompson has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with an adductor strain.

Thompson finished with seven points on 3 of 8 shooting in 15 minutes. off the bench.

The Mavs announced that Klay Thompson (right adductor contusion) is out for the remainder of tonight’s game against the Thunder. pic.twitter.com/KPDqgkMTaT

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2 March 2026

It is unclear when exactly the sweet-shooting guard suffered an adductor injury, but he could be sidelined for an extended period, as it usually takes several weeks to heal.

It is another blow for the 36-year-old Thompson, who has struggled to regain his form over the past few years following knee surgery.

He has been largely inconsistent in his tenure with the Mavericks, but he remains a lethal threat from outside. He averaged 11.5 points, 38.7% field goals, 73.0% free throws, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his career.

Much of this can be attributed to his dwindling confidence, and suffering from an adductor injury certainly won’t help in that regard. For what it’s worth, the four-time champion has been here before. He has proven that he is resilient enough to bounce back. Hopefully he can recover soon.

At the time of writing, the Mavericks are trailing the Thunder by a wide margin in the fourth quarter.

Dallas is already playing without Cooper Flagg, who sat out with a foot injury.

Thompson was rumored to be on the trading block in February, but he managed to remain with the team. However, the Mavericks could move to acquire him in the offseason.

Cooper Flagg has missed six consecutive games with a left medial sprain. Although the walking boot was recently removed, it appears there is still no timetable for the Dallas Mavericks star’s return.

According to Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoop Journal, reports indicate the 19-year-old rookie will miss Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It marked Flagg’s seventh consecutive game missed since suffering an injury in the Mavericks’ 120–111 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 10.

“Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg (left medial sprain) has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.”

The news that the former No. 1 overall pick was rejected on Saturday may not be so surprising. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Friday that he doesn’t expect Cooper Flagg to be available for the March 3 game against Kon Nueppel and the Charlotte Hornets. If so, Flagg could be out for at least two more games.

Despite injury issues in recent weeks, Flagg has looked every bit like a franchise cornerstone during his rookie season. He is still in consideration for the Rookie of the Year award, as he has played at a high level while healthy. In 49 games played, Flagg has averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per contest, while shooting 48.2% from the floor and 30.2% from beyond the three-point line.

With Cooper Flagg out once again, RJ Nembhard Jr. and Brandon Williams should see some action at the point guard position. With PJ Washington and Marvin Bagley III also out for the game against the Thunder, the Mavericks will likely rely on Max Christie, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford.

Friday night’s NBA slate featured a showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The two teams have developed a rivalry in recent years, and with each matchup, the games are becoming more intense.

Tension rose Friday when Nuggets center Nikola Jokic ran onto the court. The Thunder’s Lu Dort supported Jokic, causing him to fall to the floor. Jokic stood up and punched Dort in anger. Jaylin Williams attempted to interfere, and he and Jokic shoved and grabbed each other’s jerseys before officials and team personnel separated them.

The normally mild-mannered Jokic took some time to address the tense situation after the game.

“Unnecessary move, and a necessary reaction,” Jokic said. “There’s no such thing – I think things like that shouldn’t happen on a basketball floor. So it was just an unnecessary step and a necessary reaction by me.”

Tension rises in battle between Nuggets, Thunder

After a video review, officials upgraded the foul on Dort to a flagrant 2, triggering an automatic ejection with 8:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. Crew chief James Williams said the contact was unnecessary, excessive and had a high potential for injury. Jokic and Williams each received technical fouls for their roles in the ensuing scandal.

Lu Dort was ejected after fouling Nikola Jokic on this play.

Nikola Jokic and Jaylin Williams both received technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/ZFyNHpigsM

– ESPN (@espn) 28 February 2026

Despite the fourth quarter struggles, Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Jamal Murray led Denver in scoring with 39 points in 47 minutes.

The Nuggets ultimately fell behind, falling 121–127 in overtime.

The Nuggets and Thunder will face each other twice before the end of the regular season. The way things went on Friday, the last two matches between these teams are shaping up to be completely cinematic.

The Denver Nuggets will travel to Paycom Center on Friday to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, and come into the game with a win over the Boston Celtics. The Thunder lost to Cade Cunningham’s Detroit Pistons last time out, but are counting on the return of powerhouse Shai Gilgeous-Alexander himself.

The same can’t entirely be said for Jamal Murray, who is listed as questionable on the official injury report. Murray is dealing with a serious illness that forced him out of Wednesday’s win over the Boston Celtics.

And while the Nuggets are short on personnel, the same is true for the defending champions. Despite SGA being removed from the injured list, Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, Brandon Carlson and Ajay Mitchell are out.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Jamal Murray’s injury status vs. Thunder

The Nuggets will hope that Murray can fight the disease. Murray lasted just eight minutes and scored two points, before being shut down completely for the evening.

After the win, Nuggets head coach David Edelman painted a grim picture of his point guard’s health, revealing that the team medical staff had aggressively treated the illness before the game, but to no avail. Edelman said, “He looked terrible. They gave him all the medications. It didn’t help. All kinds of physical things were happening.”

Murray averaged 25.1 points, 7.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting a highly efficient 48.3% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range. Plus, the nuggets are already spread thin.

They will be without Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, both of whom are out with right hamstring strains, and join players like Tamar Bates and Curtis Jones. Meanwhile, Spencer Jones and Jalen Pickett are listed as questionable, while Julian Strother is likely to play despite a sprained toe.

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Questionable (illness)

Spencer Jones: Questionable (right shoulder strain)

Jalen Pickett: Questionable (right knee soreness)

Julian Strother: Probable (left big toe sprain)

Aaron Gordon: Out (right hamstring strain)

Peyton Watson: Out (right hamstring strain)

Tamar Bates: Out (left foot surgery)

Curtis Jones: Out (G League – Two-Way)

thunderbolt injury report

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Jalen Williams: Out (right hamstring strain)

Brandon Carlson: Out (low back strain)

The Oklahoma City Thunder (45-15) are set to host the Denver Nuggets (37-22) for a blockbuster Northwest Division clash on Friday night at Paycom Center. Denver comes in with the NBA’s No. 1 offense (120.7 offensive rating), while Oklahoma City faces the league’s toughest defense (106.4 defensive rating).

However, all eyes are on the Thunder’s superstar point guard, who has been sidelined ahead of the All-Star break. And well, OKC fans will be happy to know that Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is completely off the official injury list for the defending champions, which means he is set to make his return after already being cleared.

OKC still has injury concerns as Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Thomas Sorber and Brandon Carlson are still out. The same is true for the Nuggets, who still have Jamal Murray listed as questionable along with several names on the injury list.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, after missing the Thunder’s last nine games due to an abdominal strain. His comeback is not only important for the Thunder, but also for his own personal appreciation.
The reigning MVP has only six games remaining under the NBA’s minimum 65-game rule to remain eligible for season-ending awards. And given his staggering averages of 31.8 points, 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds, he is once again an MVP contender.

Shai will be facing off against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is currently a triple-double threat averaging 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 10.4 assists. In their only previous meeting this season on February 1, Gilgeous-Alexander torched the Nuggets in the Mile High City, posting 34 points and 13 assists on 68% shooting to lead the Thunder to a 121–111 win.

thunderbolt injury report

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Jalen Williams: Out (right hamstring strain)

Brandon Carlson: Out (low back strain)

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Questionable (illness)

Spencer Jones: Questionable (right shoulder strain)

Jalen Pickett: Questionable (right knee soreness)

Julian Strother: Probable (left big toe sprain)

Aaron Gordon: Out (right hamstring strain)

Peyton Watson: Out (right hamstring strain)

Tamar Bates: Out (left foot surgery)

Curtis Jones: Out (G League – Two-Way)

The Detroit Pistons emerged victorious in a highly anticipated battle of the NBA’s top two teams on Wednesday as they defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-116 at Little Caesars Arena.

Cade Cunningham was a big contributor for the Pistons, who improved to 43-14, including 23-7 at home. He scored 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting, four rebounds, 13 assists, three steals and three blocks. However, they had a game-high eight turnovers.

Nevertheless, his all-round effort was enough to lead Detroit to the victory. He has now had three blocks in each of his last three games. When asked about it, Cunningham pointed to LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The two-time All-Star said, “I’ve always enjoyed knocking things down and getting blocks. I watched LeBron a lot growing up, so I think it’s something I’ve always been very good at.”

“You know, a little bit of playing hoops and stuff, so that’s always been a part of my game, and it’s finally coming to the NBA.”

“I watched LeBron a lot [James] “Growing up.”

Cade Cunningham speaks on his 3 block against the Thunder tonight

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/1xycibUjUY

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

Of course, James is known for his pursuit disapproval, and he should be thrilled to know that Cunningham was inspired by his trademark move.

The 24-year-old Cunningham is averaging 25.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.5 steals, along with a career-best 0.9 blocks this season. He has really become a well-rounded player over the last few years, knowing he needs to step up to help the Pistons climb out of the basement.

Cunningham, who was recently asked about his aura, has often acknowledged his responsibilities as Detroit’s go-to man, and it is not within him to contribute much on defense.

The city of Detroit hasn’t had this kind of hope basketball-wise since the mid-2000s. But thanks to Cade Cunningham’s emergence as one of the best players in the association, the Pistons have become one of the best teams in the NBA. Their relentless defense and constant physicality makes them really troublesome to play against and it helped them to a 124-116 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While the Thunder were missing some key players, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, the win over the defending champions is nothing to scoff at. OKC has been very competitive no matter who they have on the court, and the Pistons did well not to let their defense down in the trap game.

Fans at Little Caesars Arena knew how much it meant for the Pistons to beat the Thunder. After the game, they were so excited and expressing so much of their affection for their star man in Cunningham as were the fans. pounce on him As soon as he gave some autographs.

“We love you! Oh my god!” Some fans can be heard yelling toward the Pistons star.

Via The Detroit Times on X (formerly Twitter):

Cade Cunningham signing autographs for fans after tonight’s game ❤️

pic.twitter.com/aDn2oonCz1

— 26 February 2026

Pistons remain favorites in the East

The Pistons are being slightly underrated by some fans, given that they have not been very proven on the grand stage yet. They made the playoffs last year and lost to the New York Knicks in six games, but mounting a deep playoff run is going to be a different beast than the team has experienced yet.

But their play throughout the season should lead many to believe they are a legitimate contending team. They carry themselves with a lot of swag and their best player is a genuine superstar who steps up in big moments.

The Toronto Raptors suffered a disappointing 116-107 loss at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. What made this loss even more disappointing for the Raptors was that the Thunder were shorthanded; The defending champions were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, but Toronto allowed Cason Wallace to score 27 points on 11-16 shooting from the field and 4-5 from beyond the arc.

Taken in isolation, this harm is not as worrisome. The Thunder have a deep team that remains dangerous despite the absence of SGA and J-Dub, and losing to the best team in the NBA is no shame. But a deeper look at the Raptors’ results reveals a very worrying trend that doesn’t bode well for their chances of making a deep playoff run.

As TSN’s Josh Levenberg reported, the Raptors are now 4-14 against NBA top-10 teams (in terms of win-loss record). Three of those wins came against the Cleveland Cavaliers before James Harden was brought in and rejuvenated the team, while the other win came against OKC in late January.

The Raptors have regularly struggled against the best teams in the NBA, but the old saying goes that to be the best, one has to beat the best. So far, Toronto isn’t passing that test.

The Raptors may just be a little short of being a legitimate contender

The Raptors may be struggling with the problem that their best shot-maker can get stuck against teams with elite defenses. Brandon Ingram has shown in the past that he can struggle when faced with defensive pressure, and Toronto’s other key players aren’t at a level where they can help compensate for each other’s weaknesses.

This doesn’t mean Toronto is a bad team; For some reason their record is a good 34-24. But the front office looking for stars on the trade market is making it known how they view this current squad.

The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night looking to continue their recent form. The defending champions have won four of their last five matches and face a team that has also built momentum with two wins on the bounce.

According to the official injury report, the Raptors have been handed a big assignment with the return of Scottie Barnes to the roster. Barnes missed the win over the Milwaukee Bucks due to personal reasons, which was only the second time he did not suit up all season.

Meanwhile, the Thunder are missing several players, including players like Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Jalen Williams, with Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso both listed as questionable. However, they recorded a dominant win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last time out despite missing stars, with Holmgren running the show and finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds.

Scotty Barnes’ injury status vs. Thunder

Barnes averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists, earning his second All-Star appearance. His return gives the Raptors some much-needed optimism, especially considering the Thunder’s absence.

The Raptors (34-23) didn’t miss Barnes on Sunday and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 122-94 behind an impressive 32-point performance from Immanuel Quickley. However, that is unlikely to be true against a team that has gone 44-14 so far in the league.

Of course, the Raptors are missing other players as well, with a series of rotational stars on G League assignment, with Jakob Poeltl not expected to suit up either.

Raptors injury report

Jakob Poeltl: Out (lower back strain – injury management)

Chucky Hepburn: Out (G League – Two-Way)

AJ Lawson: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Elijah Martin: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Jonathan Mogbo: Out (G League – On Assignment)

thunderbolt injury report

Alex Caruso: Questionable (left ankle sprain)

Chet Holmgren: Questionable (lower back spasms)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Out (abdominal strain)

Jalen Williams: Out (strained right hamstring)

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ seven-game winning streak ended on Sunday, as the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the NBA’s hottest team with a 121-113 victory on their home floor. It’s the Cavs’ first loss since Jan. 30, before they acquired James Harden, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to join Donovan Mitchell, Kenny Atkinson and company at the trade deadline. After falling into a 28–5 hole in the opening seven minutes due to a 10-turnover start, Cleveland battled back.

“The recovery was great,” Harden said after the game. “Don’t turn the ball over, get shots at the rim, and then defensively, step back, stay in front of your man, contest shots. We’re pretty good. It’s just us doing that every night. It’s a different team. Even without Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]without j-dub [Jalen Williams]They’re still obviously a very good defensive team.

Sam Merrill said, “Probably the best defense this league has seen in a while.” “Even with some of their leading scorers out, they still have a lot of good defensive players. You just get avalanches to start the game; that’s what happened last year. Obviously, we responded a lot better this time. Gotta figure out the turnovers. But that’s just not the way they defend. Even without SGA and Jalen Williams, they really move the ball. They cut, they pass. Obviously, they Shot the ball really well today.”

Led by Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams, the Thunder made 14 of 22 three-ball attempts in the first half. The Cavs got into a better rhythm in the second quarter and hung on well enough to wreak havoc with the defensive pressure led by Ellis and Schroder, and the halftime margin was only nine. Merrill felt the Cavs made simple plays to counter the home team’s early punches.

“I think we got a little rushed to start. The margin probably wasn’t good to start with,” Merrill said. “You still want to play with speed, obviously, but doing that by getting into the right spots and not playing too fast, I think, has helped.”

Cleveland struggled to take the lead at times midway through the third quarter, yet OKC could not hold on.

Donovan Mitchell said, “Missed some easy looks, had some key defensive rebounds that we didn’t get. I’m not really worried about that start.” “The biggest thing is that once we got to the point where it was 67-67, for me it was, ‘Okay, how do we fix it from there?'”

“I felt like we had some bad offensive possessions that allowed them to get transition buckets,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The quality of our shot wasn’t very good. I probably blame the offense more than the defense for that. With this team, you can’t give them possession, whether it’s turnovers or bad shots. They’re No. 1 in the league in transition efficiency. They cause turnovers, which is the equivalent of layups. And if you take bad shots, they go down, and they score.”

Although Atkinson didn’t like some of those possessions in the latter half of the game, Cleveland still shot 48.3% from the field and outrebounded the Thunder in the paint 56-40 overall. The problem is that OKC scored a total of 31 points on 17 possessions in the opener. The Cavs had 20 points each from Mitchell, Merrill and Harden, but the big players were not involved against the Thunder frontcourt, possibly due to the threat of their passing-lane defense.

The Cavs’ recurring problem comes at the wrong time.

Very often, especially in the final period, a familiar issue rears its head.

“I felt like they got some important offensive rebounds when we got stops,” Atkinson said. “We’ve got to clean it up. For me, that’s our Achilles heel right now, defensive rebounding. They got some big ones at the end. Best team in the league, extra possessions. It really hurts you.”

“I think we just have to work on rebounding,” Mitchell said. “That’s been an ongoing theme. We’ve got to bounce back and give ourselves a chance to get out there and get there. Once we get back [from the deficit]We were just giving them extra opportunities. Some people took shots, credit goes to them, it is not necessary that they always take shots. But at the same time, it’s easier to make threes when you don’t get the rebound. These are the things I focus on. We’ll see it on film and get better.”

If you look at the stat sheet, the battle of the boards was also at 44 copies. However, the difference between Chet Holmgren’s 15 and Evan Mobley’s 2 sticks like a sore thumb compared to the Jarrett Allen-Isaiah Hartenstein matchup that was in favor of the wine and gold (13-7).

These were the times OKC kept it alive or the key points in the game where the Cavs needed to come up with the basketball that hurt them. Gang rebounding needed to improve in those situations, especially when Mobley and Allen were switching near the perimeter.

“We missed some open looks, which happens, but we couldn’t get the boards,” Mitchell said. “Hertenstein, I think we were up one or the game was tied, and he scored six straight points, two of them off Hartenstein’s floaters. Little things like that. Or, we make a great possession play, the ball is on the floor, JA gets in the back door because we’re trying to scramble.

“It’s little things like that on top of rebounding. When you’re against a team like that, every little thing matters a lot. We’re not sitting here with our heads down. We’ve got things we can clean up, and we’ll figure it out and get better.”

After all, there’s no need to point any fingers after the new-look version of Cleveland loses its first game.

“We did a lot of positive things,” Mitchell said. “We’re still figuring things out as a group. Even in that fourth quarter, figuring out, ‘Okay, is it me or is Eve coming to set the screen? Is it JA? Is it Sam? Sam is Roller, what are you doing?’ There are a lot of things to figure out. At the end of the day, we won’t turn our heads over this. This is a part of it. “We weren’t going to go 29-0, but we still have stuff to clean up and fix.”

“Listen, it’s no excuse, but it’s a tough schedule: 3-in-4, afternoon games,” Atkinson said. “On the road, it makes it a little different. It is what it is, and we have to overcome those tough schedule games. I’m proud of the way the guys battled and gave us a chance.”

Although it may be lacking now, it could eventually pay off if Cleveland uses it correctly.

“This is our sixth game together,” Harden said. “I think it’s bigger than them. I think it’s on us every night, no matter who we’re playing. It’s a lot of things we’re still figuring out — rotations, lineups, all that stuff. Once we get to that and figure out how we’re playing and the lineups and all that, we’ll be a lot better. But give them credit, they played a great game today and we still have some work to do.”

“The games and the reps. You look at this team. They’ve had postseason failures a few years and they’re finally over the hump. It all takes time, so these games are very valuable. We’ve got to cherish them like practice in games because it’s our sixth game. Lesson learned. Watch film, get better, and be ready for the next game.”