Friday evening turned the most recent instance of the West-leading Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder flexing their muscle tissue as they gear up for a postseason run.
The Thunder’s 141-106 domination of the Charlotte Hornets gave the group with the NBA’s finest report win No. 58, their fifth straight victory and their twelfth of their final 13 video games.
And regardless that some might dismiss a win over one of many worst groups in basketball, the Thunder have been exhibiting they can beat anyone, however once they face a considerably inferior opponent, they blow them out.
As at all times, Oklahoma Metropolis’s depth was on show Friday. Eight completely different Thunder gamers reached double-digits in scoring, led by 30 factors from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP entrance runner now has four 30-point games in a row and has additionally reached 30 in each recreation of the month apart from a 25-point evening in a loss to Denver on March 10. He additionally added 9 assists and 6 rebounds in opposition to Charlotte.
However the primary motive so many are excessive on the Thunder being a championship favourite is as a result of so many gamers contribute on a nightly foundation. Chet Holmgren, who returned to motion in early February after missing 39 games with an injury, scored 14 in 28 minutes and shot 50% from the sphere.
Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe had 14 a chunk, Isaiah Hartenstein put up 12 of his personal and Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace and Kenrich Williams every scored 11. Alex Caruso, the one member of the Thunder with an NBA championship ring, even recorded 9 with three boards in simply quarter-hour.
As normal, the Thunder did not want all that manufacturing however have been capable of unfold the love nonetheless. However this high-powered Thunder unit has now reached 100 factors in 29 consecutive video games.
It is also value noting Oklahoma Metropolis has some huge assertion wins throughout its latest scorching steak. It beat the Bucks, 121-105, final Sunday, took down the stunning Pistons, 113-107, received a possible NBA Finals preview in Boston, 118-112, and earned a convincing victory over the Nuggets to the tune of 127-103 earlier than shedding to Denver 24 hours later.
This Oklahoma Metropolis group may be inexperienced so far as experiencing postseason success as a bunch, however every little thing about how it’s taking part in on the courtroom screams will probably be a troublesome out and is the favourite to win the West for a motive.