Overview
- The defending champions own the league’s best record at 9-1, pairing a top-six offense with a league-leading 106.4 defensive rating.
- After Friday’s win, Gilgeous-Alexander said the team didn’t play its best basketball during the title run and vowed to raise the postseason standard.
- Coach Mark Daigneault told players to approach the offseason as if they had lost a Game 7 in Denver, reflecting lessons from two seven-game series last spring.
- Oklahoma City has maintained pace without Jalen Williams as he rehabs a wrist injury, with depth pieces such as Aaron Wiggins and rookie Ajay Mitchell contributing.
- Blake Griffin now views OKC as “head and shoulders above” the field, citing about 95% roster continuity and internal improvement, while noting it is still early.