OKC is nearing the record set by The Stephen Curry-era Warriors.

Joseph Kallan

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OKC inches closer to matching Stephen Curry–era Warriors record image

TL;DR

  • Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Portland Trail Blazers 122-95, improving to 17-1.
  • The Thunder's 17-1 start is second all-time, trailing only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 32.2 points and often rests the fourth quarter.
  • Oklahoma City has a 29-1 record since last year when Jalen Williams was sidelined.

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured their seventeenth regular-season victory on Sunday night, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers by a score of 122-95 and advancing their standing to 17-1.

Fans are experiencing the same predictable pattern. The outcome is often determined by halftime, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander frequently rests during the final quarter, and Mark Daigneault consistently identifies promising players from his reserve squad.

Oklahoma City has been so dominant that its 17-1 start now ranks second all-time through 18 games — trailing only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. That Warriors team, powered by an MVP-level Stephen Curry, elite shooting from Klay Thompson and Draymond Green anchoring the defense, famously finished the year 73-9.

MORE: Is Golden State’s 73-9 record in jeopardy?

The Thunder's dominance thus far has been truly alarming, and they're showing no indication of easing up.

OKC's record, excluding a single defeat, features two distinct eight-game winning runs within their initial 18 games. Concurrently, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is posting averages of 32.2 points, 6.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, all while effectively playing just three quarters. He's sat out the entirety of the fourth quarter on seven occasions this season.

That’s not just dominance. That’s a warning.

The Thunder become even more intimidating as they uncover fresh offensive capabilities despite the absence of both SGA and Jalen Williams, who hasn't participated in any games this season. Since the beginning of last year, Oklahoma City boasts an incredible 29-1 record in matchups where J-Dub was sidelined.

At this point, it’s hard to pinpoint which team will finally halt OKC’s machine-like momentum. Their 16.9-point average margin of victory ranks nearly six points higher than the second-place Houston Rockets.

The 2015-16 Warriors needed 25 games to suffer their initial defeat and 31 games to record their second.

If past performance is a guide, Oklahoma City is setting itself up to join the ranks of top-tier teams, potentially rivaling Stephen Curry's Warriors or carving out its own unique niche.

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Editorial Team