Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder has matched the very best 25-game begin in NBA historical past and can hunt down one other victory when it faces San Antonio Spurs within the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday night time.
Thunder and 2015-16 Golden State Warriors are the lone groups in NBA historical past to win 24 of their first 25 video games. Golden State additionally received Recreation No. 26.
Nevertheless, Spurs can have star centre Victor Wembanyama again on the ground after a 12-game absence on account of a calf harm.
Oklahoma Metropolis owns a franchise-record 16-game profitable streak with the victories coming by a median of 20.8 factors. The final three contests had been determined by a complete of 100 factors (21, 30 and 49).
The defending champion has reeled off 5 straight wins in NBA Cup play by a median of 24.8 factors, together with Wednesday night time’s 138-89 steamrolling of the visiting Phoenix Suns.
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A victory over the Spurs within the West remaining would place Oklahoma Metropolis in Tuesday’s title recreation towards both the Orlando Magic or New York Knicks. These two squads battle within the East remaining on Saturday.
Final season, Thunder reached the NBA Cup championship recreation earlier than shedding 97-81 to the Milwaukee Bucks.
“We ought to be in a superb place,” reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “We’re doing quite a bit higher than we did final 12 months. We’ll see the way it goes and go on the market and attempt to get two Ws.”
Spurs are feeling fairly good themselves by profitable 17 of their first 24 video games. Studying Friday that Wembanyama will likely be again was a giant improvement for them.
“I really feel nice. I’m able to go,” Wembanyama stated throughout a media session in Las Vegas. “I believe we’ve carried out the precise issues over nevertheless lengthy it’s been, the previous few weeks.”
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson stated Wembanyama could be below a minutes restriction and could be subbed out of the sport sooner than regular.
“I count on him to play,” Johnson stated. “Nonetheless ongoing conversations of what that appears like.”
Spurs went 9-3 with Wembanyama on the sidelines. A type of victories was Wednesday’s 132-119 quarterfinal victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Reigning Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Citadel produced a season-best 30 factors on 10-of-14 taking pictures and picked up 10 rebounds whereas De’Aaron Fox added 20 factors.
Fox stated the Spurs won’t be intimidated by Oklahoma Metropolis, which has received eight of the previous 10 conferences with San Antonio.
“That staff simply received a championship. They’re on a roll proper now,” Fox stated. “Clearly, that’s a tricky process. On the finish of the day, we go into each recreation feeling like we will win. We now have a gaggle the place we really feel like we will beat anyone. Loopy issues occur. … Something can occur on any given night time.”
Printed on Dec 13, 2025