Dallas Mavericks 121 @ Oklahoma City Thunder 115

https://img.ksl.com/slc/3037/303796/30379607.jpg?filter=ksl/gallery

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705191



Attendance: 18,203

I was thinking the same thing. If they get healthy and we have to face them in the playoffs it could be an early exit. It's frustrating that we struggle against them.

https://appimages.nba.com/p/tr:n-slnfre/2024/uniform/Oklahoma%20City%20Thunder/OKC_AE.jpg

Sunday, January 26, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder 36-8 @ Portland Trailblazers 16-28
Moda Center, Portland
TV: FanDuel Sports Oklahoma - 5:00 PM

Losing to the Mavs without Luka is even more frustrating. I think I would rather see them lose to any other team besides the Mavs. It has to be frustrating for the Thunder too especially as good as they are this year. Not a good look for Dort tonight either.

Just had a funny thought cross my mind. We are regarded as one the best teams or the best team in the NBA but we're not better than dallas....that's a hard pill to swallow....lol

All 4 games have been so wildly different personal wise that you can't take much away from any of the games. Yes we Lost 3 times too them when they didn't have Luka. We also didn't have I-hart, Chet. Dallas does create match up problems for us but we beat them regular season last year 3-1 how did that turn out for us in the playoffs. It happens often in the NBA a team will win the regular season 4-0 or 3-1 and than lose to that team in the playoffs. You sometime can't take much from regular season games. Heck the Lakers blew out Celtics tonight. Should Boston be worried. Atlanta beat the Cavs twice this season should they be worried. Nah

Look at the 4th Qtr tonight. No Luka, No Lively, No Thompson, No Naz Reed. No Chet, No I-Hart, No Dort, No Wallace (hurt) You going to see a totally different set of players come playoff time

for whatever reason, we don't match up well with the Mavs. They have handed us our only 2 losses in the last 15 games, besides the one to the Cavs. Games like this we really miss Chet and iHart.

PJ Washington getting nearly 20 rebounds is going to be like that.

Also why is Dort suddenly going down Draymond path? He needs to get back in his lane, if I am being honest. He has been in some recent dust-ups a little too eagerly.

I want the Mavs in round 1. Full health both sides, their fans are insufferable and the rivalry is real.

We don't want the Mavs in the playoffs even if we are at full health, regardless of the lineups & matchups going back to playoffs last year they are better than us head to head for some reason. They just beat us without Luka + other significant injuries again and controlled the game. If Mavs are healthy we could very easily get bounced early and there are zero guarantees Thunder will be healthy either (we haven't been yet all year).

If the Mavs get healthy I fully expect them to make another deep playoff run & hope it's not at our expense. They are still the team to beat at least for us as far as I'm concerned.

We don't want the Mavs in the playoffs even if we are at full health, regardless of the lineups & matchups going back to playoffs last year they are better than us head to head for some reason. They just beat us without Luka + other significant injuries again and controlled the game. If Mavs are healthy we could very easily get bounced early and there are zero guarantees Thunder will be healthy either (we haven't been yet all year).

If the Mavs get healthy I fully expect them to make another deep playoff run & hope it's not at our expense. They are still the team to beat at least for us as far as I'm concerned.

In the one game that we played them with a healthy big, we won by 14. We picked up iHart specifically because of how the Dallas series went last year. Even with Luka out, we just aren’t going to beat them missing iHart, Chet, Joe and Mitchell to start and then losing Dort and Wallace down the stretch. Dillon Jones played in crunch time last night. Also last week we played them without SGA and without him we have one of the worst offensive ratings in the league. At full strength, I think we win that series in 5-6 though I’d rather play any other team in the west.

In the one game that we played them with a healthy big, we won by 14. We picked up iHart specifically because of how the Dallas series went last year. Even with Luka out, we just aren’t going to beat them missing iHart, Chet, Joe and Mitchell to start and then losing Dort and Wallace down the stretch. Dillon Jones played in crunch time last night. Also last week we played them without SGA and without him we have one of the worst offensive ratings in the league. At full strength, I think we win that series in 5-6 though I’d rather play any other team in the west.

Still they beat us without Luka while we couldn't hang without SGA of course. Luka + Kyrie healthy will be a nightmare again with their bigs if everyone healthy. Even at full strength I have my doubts until we prove we can get over the hump with them. I realize we picked up Ihart because of Dallas series last year and he's a great fit but still no guarantees. PJ Washington plays at an all NBA level against us as well for some reason and they can space the floor/shoot.

I'm not saying we aren't capable of beating them but for now I would put us as underdogs again in a playoff series regardless of the matchups. Last 10 games now between the teams the mavs are 7-3 against us and have in large part controlled those games with us struggling to catch them.

Once again Mark went with doubling Kyrie late in the game, which left Grimes (x2), Kleber, and Washington wide open for a 3. This is what killed all the momentum at the end.

I don't understand why coach insists on doubling Kyrie/Luka. I feel like between all of the games in the last 2 seasons with them, the data shows to stay man-to-man.

Once again Mark went with doubling Kyrie late in the game, which left Grimes (x2), Kleber, and Washington wide open for a 3. This is what killed all the momentum at the end.

I don't understand why coach insists on doubling Kyrie/Luka. I feel like between all of the games in the last 2 seasons with them, the data shows to stay man-to-man.

Last night it likely had to do with Dort and Wallace being out in the 4th quarter.

Deep breaths everybody they beat us by two points 8 points and six points it's not like they're blowing us out in games without our bigs. The one time when almost everybody played on both sides we won by 14. This was our fifth game in eight nights. January schedule has been pretty packed. I just kind of feel we're hitting a little bit of a January wall this week coming up we only play two games so I think the rest is going to help.

Oh definitely. This is the best OKC team ever, and post-ASB is going to be incredible.

Deep breaths everybody they beat us by two points 8 points and six points it's not like they're blowing us out in games without our bigs. The one time when almost everybody played on both sides we won by 14. This was our fifth game in eight nights. January schedule has been pretty packed. I just kind of feel we're hitting a little bit of a January wall this week coming up we only play two games so I think the rest is going to help.

Agree. I think we're just sandbagging the Mavs for the playoffs.

The Mavs size is what really hurt OKC in last year's playoff series. So, we went out and picked up iHart. In the only game he played against the Mavs, we won. The Mavs do match up well with us because of their size across the board, but if we're healthy, we're a completely different team. I, for one, would love to see the Mavs in the playoffs. I have come to hate the Mavs and they really hate Dort.

Well with this logic of they beat us 3-1 we won't even see them in the playoffs if Houston is 2 seed and Dallas is 3 seed. Houston has already beat them twice. Once Dallas fully healthy and the other time only Luka was out. So see nothing to worry about. Mavs lost 3-1 to Denver. So if that is the 4/5 match up they have no shot right? SMH

I don't want a Dallas rivalry. I don't want any kind of "big brother-little brother" rivalry. I want to get away from the Texoma rivals. I would prefer to rival west of Denver, TBH.

I’m not getting too worked up over our losses to them. We still have not seen iHart and Chet at the same time in our lineup during the regular season. Once we get everyone healthy, I think we will be fine against teams like the Mavs.

http://i.imgur.com/r0kZZFm.jpg
Most NBA rivalries have more to do with close proximity pairings. Especially when the demographics are ripe; regardless of an NBA large market vs. small market. Oklahoma City
is the closest NBA market to Dallas. Closer than their Texas in-state rivals San Antonio and Houston.

That still has Charlotte as Bobcats, not Hornets.

That still has Charlotte as Bobcats, not Hornets.

Sorry, but it's an outdated MAP. My purpose for the MAP was to draw attention to the driving distances between


Dallas to Oklahoma City = 206 miles
Dallas to Houston = 239
Dallas to San Antonio = 273

Dallas is closer to OKC than any of its Texas' counterparts.

I-hart is back for tomorrow vs Portland. Dort is out. Wallace has a broken nose. I think it was called something else I don't remember now. Oh it's a nasal fracture.

I-hart is back for tomorrow vs Portland. Dort is out. Wallace has a broken nose. I think it was called something else I don't remember now. Oh it's a nasal fracture.




https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/4222252.png&h=80&w=110&scale=cropandhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/4395702.png&h=80&w=110&scale=crop

Return of the Isaiah Bluebloods . . .
. . . will be a thorn in the Rose City's side.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

Sorry, but it's an outdated MAP. My purpose for the MAP was to draw attention to the driving distances between


Dallas to Oklahoma City = 206 miles
Dallas to Houston = 239
Dallas to San Antonio = 273

Dallas is closer to OKC than any of its Texas' counterparts.

I always think back to Mark Cuban's statement when he voted against the Sonics move to Oklahoma City "I don't want to create a Dust Bowl Division in the NBA." Add OKC to the "Texas triangle" and that is what you get. I freely admit I don't know for sure, but I don't think driving to road games is much of a thing in the NBA. I will say that I was surprised how many people drove from Kansas City to Norman for the Chiefs vs Buccaneers game on Owen field. Pre-season! In 1998! Seems like yesterday... Gosh I'm old.

I-hart is back for tomorrow vs Portland. Dort is out. Wallace has a broken nose. I think it was called something else I don't remember now. Oh it's a nasal fracture.

Is Dort out because of the ejection or some other reason?

Is Dort out because of the ejection or some other reason?

Some type of minor injury or soreness.

ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see you Houston. I thought they would fall apart this week. Beat the Cavs back 2 back. HUM

I always think back to Mark Cuban's statement when he voted against the Sonics move to Oklahoma City "I don't want to create a Dust Bowl Division in the NBA." Add OKC to the "Texas triangle" and that is what you get. I freely admit I don't know for sure, but I don't think driving to road games is much of a thing in the NBA. I will say that I was surprised how many people drove from Kansas City to Norman for the Chiefs vs Buccaneers game on Owen field. Pre-season! In 1998! Seems like yesterday... Gosh I'm old.

Disappointing coming from Mark Cuban; however this has been a strategic move by Texas to have Oklahomans visiting Texas and spending money especially in the Metroplex. Luring Oklahoma Fortune 500 companies. How many years did it take the Oklahoma legislative to figure out their own tax spending holiday weekend to counter the multimillions of dollars spent in the Lone Star state. Also, internet sales tax collections.

Glad to see more venues being built in OKC to attract out-of-state dollars to Oklahoma. OKC Convention Center, Omni Hotel, State Fair Coliseum, FAM, OKANA and the much anticipated $1 billion downtown arena.

Our downtown towers look more vibrant with Devon, BancFirst, First National and Strata Tower renovations. Future historic downtown structures with preservation plans--we lost many to demolition like our 600 room iconic 26 story Sheraton-Oklahoma hotel.

Some type of minor injury or soreness.

That is the OFFICIAL reason, for sure.

I don't think the Thunder organization, most of all coach Mark, wants that kind of play or reputation to grow. Wouldn't be surprising for this to be an in-house message.

Some type of minor injury or soreness.

Knee soreness

Would be more plausible if it was his hand or wrist. :cool:

Oklahoma City Thunder 118 @ Portland T-Blazers 108



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4HoDHF3ino

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705213



Attendance: 17,619

https://appimages.nba.com/p/tr:n-slnfre/2024/uniform/Oklahoma%20City%20Thunder/OKC_AE.jpg

Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder 37-8 @ Golden State Warriors 22-23
Chase Center, San Francisco
TV: ESPN/FanDuel Oklahoma - 9:00 PM

Glad to see Hartenstein & Joe back; made a difference against the energized Portland team.

I was so wrong about the Rockets. I thought they would lose 2 of these 3. Cavs twice and at Boston. Nope they won all 3. They are for real. I still don't think they catch OKC but they are going to finish 2nd in the west. Everyone worried about Dallas if they finish 6th or 7th do they get past the Rockets?

I was so wrong about the Rockets. I thought they would lose 2 of these 3. Cavs twice and at Boston. Nope they won all 3. They are for real. I still don't think they catch OKC but they are going to finish 2nd in the west. Everyone worried about Dallas if they finish 6th or 7th do they get past the Rockets?

I'm trying to convince myself that the Rockets don't have our playoff experience and maturity.

I'm trying to convince myself that the Rockets don't have our playoff experience and maturity.

And we have Chet in about a month.

I'm trying to convince myself that the Rockets don't have our playoff experience and maturity.

They do remind me a lot about OKC last year. OKC from 10 seed to 1 seed. Rockets from 11 seed to 2 seed. It's really comparable. I could see them losing in the 2nd round. They are the OKC of last year. Everyone shocked at the jump they made in one year.

Thunder have increased in average team height with Bigs like Hartenstein (7'0"), Holmgren (7'1"), Carlson (7'0"), Dieng & JWill (6'9") each. If we can kept these guys healthy; we'll be able to compete with any team in the NBA. There are teams that we wouldn't want to meet in the playoff; counter to that, there are teams that wouldn't want to meet OKC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhpKK1LdpfI

Oklahoma City Thunder 109 @ Golden State Warriors 116


https://img.ksl.com/slc/3038/303898/30389807.jpg?filter=ksl/gallery

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705239



Attendance: 18,064

https://appimages.nba.com/p/tr:n-slnfre/2024/uniform/Oklahoma%20City%20Thunder/OKC_SE.jpg

Saturday, February 1, 2025
Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Paycom Center, OKC
TV: FanDuel Oklahoma - 7:00 PM

Very brutal +/- for the non-Shai minutes. Honestly a little surprising but tends to confirm that another consistent scorer is needed if this team wants to contend.

My goodness I can't wait until the Dubs fade into the sunset. I don't think that happens though until Steph retires. Threes raining down from the Warriors is the stuff of OKC nightmares.

Andrew Wiggins was the original PJ Washington. He made sure we didn't forget with his name brought up in recent trade rumors.

I am so ready to be past the ASB and get Chet back with this squad. This would have been a 20 point blowout without IHart. He was a rebounding machine.

Very brutal +/- for the non-Shai minutes. Honestly a little surprising but tends to confirm that another consistent scorer is needed if this team wants to contend.

This is why I'm still okay with the trade we need another playmaker. Do I think Cam Johnson is that guy not necessarily I'm not sure he really can create his own shot. We need somebody that can create their own shot or create shot for others. AJ Mitchell's kind of that guy but I don't want to trust a rookie come playoff time. Topic could be that guy next year but do we want to wait another year when we have the best team in the NBA now. Chet is going to help a lot in the non-shai minutes I mean a lot. That being sad we need to make a small trade for a playmaker doesn't even need to be a big name guy somebody that plays 10 minutes a game I would even take someone like Chris Paul if he gets bought out by the Kings if they make that trade for Fox going to San Antonio. This is why I kind of wanted Dennis Schroeder also even though he hasn't really worked out for the warriors I think he would have been a good fit

My goodness I can't wait until the Dubs fade into the sunset. I don't think that happens though until Steph retires. Threes raining down from the Warriors is the stuff of OKC nightmares.

I mean, they didn't make the playoffs last season and probably won't this season... so they are kind of faded.

This is why I'm still okay with the trade we need another playmaker. Do I think Cam Johnson is that guy not necessarily I'm not sure he really can create his own shot. We need somebody that can create their own shot or create shot for others. AJ Mitchell's kind of that guy but I don't want to trust a rookie come playoff time. Topic could be that guy next year but do we want to wait another year when we have the best team in the NBA now. Chet is going to help a lot in the non-shai minutes I mean a lot. That being sad we need to make a small trade for a playmaker doesn't even need to be a big name guy somebody that plays 10 minutes a game I would even take someone like Chris Paul if he gets bought out by the Kings if they make that trade for Fox going to San Antonio. This is why I kind of wanted Dennis Schroeder also even though he hasn't really worked out for the warriors I think he would have been a good fit

The Pres might need to go land a young bull like Collin Sexton. He’s a bit expensive, to be sure, but his deal expires at the end of next season which would be perfect timing with the Dub and Chet extensions looming.

The Pres might need to go land a young bull like Collin Sexton. He’s a bit expensive, to be sure, but his deal expires at the end of next season which would be perfect timing with the Dub and Chet extensions looming.

I like it. Not sure we need a big name guy either. Depends on what other teams what. It's too bad we can't see what it's like with Chet. Probably won't have Caruso back for a few weeks. Nothing official yet on him. we probably see what happens this year in the playoffs one more time and than get what we need to finish this summer. I thought last year we would be around 5-8 seed we were 1. This year I figured top 4 we should finish 1 by a few games. So I kind of think we are still a year ahead of schedule. Takes teams usually 3 years to climb to the top. Did Boston.

We have too keep in mind we still are the youngest team in the NBA. It's crazy too think JDub, Chet are only in year 3 and Wallace year 2. We don't win it all this year it's still ok we have at least 2 more changes.

The risk is assuming we can just continue to remain this competitive for 2-3 more years. A lot of people keep saying "once we get healthy". The injuries this year are the norm, not the exception. J Will, Chet, I-Hart, AC, Dort, Ajay, Joe have all missed time. The idea that come mid-April everyone will just be healthy seems shortsighted. It is more likely that the additional grind of the season makes things worse, not better. This season specifically, we perform better against the NBA elite than we do mediocre or even poor teams. I'm not sure that bodes well come playoff time. To be clear, I'm not saying our window is closing. Just that you can't pencil us into the conference finals for the next 3 seasons. If/when the opportunity to win a championship presents itself. A team needs to do everything in their power to take advantage of it. The fall from the top can happen quickly.

Radio said when SGA is off the floor we have the worst offense in the NBA. We need to fix that. Like I said Chet is going to help but what if we got someone else just incase an injury happens in the playoffs and someone missing a few games?

The risk is assuming we can just continue to remain this competitive for 2-3 more years. A lot of people keep saying "once we get healthy". The injuries this year are the norm, not the exception. J Will, Chet, I-Hart, AC, Dort, Ajay, Joe have all missed time.

You're right. These injuries have destroyed our season. We've ALREADY lost 9 games!