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We've reached the final week and change of the 2024-25 NBA regular season, and only a scant few questions remain for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Western Conference's No. 1 seed for the NBA Playoffs was long ago wrapped up by OKC on March 20.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could very well have locked up the NBA MVP Award as well, joining Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the third Thunder star to do so.
But nearly two weeks remain before OKC hosts the No. 8 seed for its playoff opener, likely on April 20.
You can vote for which team you think would be the Thunder's biggest threat in the Western Conference through noon Monday, April 14.
REQUIRED READING: How Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein is trying to be crutch he had for next generation
More: NBA MVP ladder: OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is holding off Nikola Jokic
Joel Lorenzi: Minnesota. If teams playing zone is meant to be the thorn in the Thunder's side, the Timberwolves are best suited to jam it there. Dating back to last season, they'd led stretches that've thrown OKC out of whack. Even with questions of its offensive ceiling, it's been a top-five group on that side of the ball in the new year. It remains deep, and it plays with a ruggedness that's caught the Thunder off guard a couple times. The wild West will depend on matchups, but for what it's worth, the Wolves are still dangling Denver's chain in their hand.
Justin Martinez: Denver. The Nuggets split their four-game regular-season series against the Thunder, and they have the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic. The big question mark is Denver’s supporting cast, but Jamal Murray was playing great basketball before his recent hamstring injury. He's averaging 23.3 points on 44.7% shooting from deep since the All-Star break. If that duo is healthy and clicking in the playoffs, the Nuggets will be a tough out.
Jeff Patterson: Houston. Yes, there's some recency bias at play here, but the Rockets will give teams fits in the playoffs. They're the fourth-best defensive team in the NBA and can frustrate teams even if Dillon Brooks is out of the lineup. Jalen Green is an athletic freak (did you see his reverse lob dunk Friday night in Houston's win against OKC?) who has taken off since the calendar turned to 2025. Alperen Şengün is a skilled big. Ime Udoka is a highly regarded coach. OKC won the season series 3-2. A potential showdown in the West finals would loads of fun.
More: OKC Thunder's domination of NBA's Eastern Conference is complete: By the numbers
C-Clinched conference No. 1 seed; D-Clinched division title
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder biggest threats in Western Conference for NBA Playoffs
Continue reading...
The Western Conference's No. 1 seed for the NBA Playoffs was long ago wrapped up by OKC on March 20.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could very well have locked up the NBA MVP Award as well, joining Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the third Thunder star to do so.
But nearly two weeks remain before OKC hosts the No. 8 seed for its playoff opener, likely on April 20.
You can vote for which team you think would be the Thunder's biggest threat in the Western Conference through noon Monday, April 14.
REQUIRED READING: How Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein is trying to be crutch he had for next generation
More: NBA MVP ladder: OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is holding off Nikola Jokic
Joel Lorenzi: Minnesota. If teams playing zone is meant to be the thorn in the Thunder's side, the Timberwolves are best suited to jam it there. Dating back to last season, they'd led stretches that've thrown OKC out of whack. Even with questions of its offensive ceiling, it's been a top-five group on that side of the ball in the new year. It remains deep, and it plays with a ruggedness that's caught the Thunder off guard a couple times. The wild West will depend on matchups, but for what it's worth, the Wolves are still dangling Denver's chain in their hand.
Justin Martinez: Denver. The Nuggets split their four-game regular-season series against the Thunder, and they have the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic. The big question mark is Denver’s supporting cast, but Jamal Murray was playing great basketball before his recent hamstring injury. He's averaging 23.3 points on 44.7% shooting from deep since the All-Star break. If that duo is healthy and clicking in the playoffs, the Nuggets will be a tough out.
Jeff Patterson: Houston. Yes, there's some recency bias at play here, but the Rockets will give teams fits in the playoffs. They're the fourth-best defensive team in the NBA and can frustrate teams even if Dillon Brooks is out of the lineup. Jalen Green is an athletic freak (did you see his reverse lob dunk Friday night in Houston's win against OKC?) who has taken off since the calendar turned to 2025. Alperen Şengün is a skilled big. Ime Udoka is a highly regarded coach. OKC won the season series 3-2. A potential showdown in the West finals would loads of fun.
More: OKC Thunder's domination of NBA's Eastern Conference is complete: By the numbers
NBA standings for Western Conference (entering play Saturday, April 5)
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder-c | 64 | 13 | .831 | - | +13.1 |
| Houston Rockets-d | 51 | 27 | .654 | 13.5 | +5.4 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 30 | .610 | 17 | +0.9 |
| Denver Nuggets | 47 | 31 | .603 | 17.5 | +3.8 |
| Golden State Warriors | 46 | 31 | .597 | 18 | +3.1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 32 | .584 | 19 | +4.6 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 45 | 32 | .584 | 19 | +4.2 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 45 | 32 | .584 | 19 | +4.6 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 40 | .487 | 26.5 | -0.5 |
| Sacramento Kings | 37 | 40 | .481 | 27 | +0.2 |
| Phoenix Suns | 35 | 42 | .455 | 29 | -2.5 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 34 | 44 | .436 | 30.5 | -3.3 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 32 | 45 | .416 | 32 | -2.6 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 21 | 56 | .273 | 43 | -8.8 |
| Utah Jazz | 16 | 62 | .205 | 48.5 | -9.2 |
C-Clinched conference No. 1 seed; D-Clinched division title
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder biggest threats in Western Conference for NBA Playoffs
Continue reading...
