Friday evening grew to become the newest instance of the West-leading Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder flexing their muscle groups as they gear up for a postseason run.
The Thunder’s 141-106 domination of the Charlotte Hornets gave the workforce 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 could dismiss a win over one of many worst groups in basketball, the Thunder have been displaying they’ll beat anybody, 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 totally different Thunder gamers reached double-digits in scoring, led by 30 factors from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP entrance runner now has 4 30-point video games in a row and has additionally reached 30 in each sport of the month aside 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 principle 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 lacking 39 video games with an harm, 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 common, the Thunder did not want all that manufacturing however had been in a position to 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 massive assertion wins throughout its current scorching steak. It beat the Bucks, 121-105, final Sunday, took down the shocking Pistons, 113-107, gained 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 dropping to Denver 24 hours later.
This Oklahoma Metropolis workforce could be inexperienced so far as experiencing postseason success as a gaggle, however all the things about how it’s taking part in on the courtroom screams it is going to be a troublesome out and is the favourite to win the West for a motive.
