The 2024-2025 NBA season has been up and down for the Thunder. Their record is 12-4, and they are tied for first place in their conference with the Golden State Warriors. However, all of the injuries OKC has dealt this year have put a damper on this success. After their last game on November 20th, where OKC defeated the Portland Trailblazers 109-99 and Isaiah Hartenstein made his season debut, the Thunder got a much-needed four-day rest before their next game. However, this next stretch on the Thunder schedule is one of the toughest stretches of the season and will be a real test for them.
Thunder Schedule: OKC is Entering One of Their Toughest Stretches
10 of Their Next 12 Games are on the Road
The Thunder have had an easy schedule to open the season with. Even though they have had four back-to-back games already, most of them have been at home. 10 of their first 16 games have been at home to open up the season. However, the Thunder are now entering one of their toughest stretches of the season. Besides, the Thunder have their next 10 games out of 12 being on the road. They have two stretches of four consecutive road trips, one on the West Coast and the other on the East Coast. This means they are traveling all over the U.S. in the next few weeks. Furthermore, one of those stretches could have more consecutive road games depending on who makes the NBA Cup and who doesn’t. Outside of January, this is arguably their toughest stretch of the season, making it crucial.
OKC’s Depth will be Tested
The Thunder have been dealt with many injuries this year, something they didn’t have to deal with a lot last year. The Thunder will be without Chet Holmgren, their first-round pick Nikola Topic, and recently injured Ousmane Dieng for this stretch. In addition, Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams, and Isaiah Joe could miss games during this stretch. These are a lot of names that will be out for the Thunder during this stretch. This means the Thunder will need some of their depth guys to step up.
Thunder injury report tomorrow vs the Kings:
OUT
Alex Caruso
Ousmane Dieng
Alex Ducas
Chet Holmgren
Nikola Topić
Jaylin WilliamsQuestionable
Isaiah JoeOKC’s depth being tested early this season.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) November 25, 2024
Usually, in a stretch like this, you want to have a lot of depth so you can spread the minutes around during these games. Unfortunately, that isn’t a luxury the Thunder have at the moment. Two things could come out as a result of this stretch for the Thunder. The good result would be it gives certain players more opportunities and allows them to grow and get better in ways they couldn’t before. The Thunder have already started seeing signs of this in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. However, on the other side, it could lead to players being worn down too early with extended minutes, which could lead to more injuries.
The Thunder Must Remain Focused for Every Game
In a stretch like this, it is easy for teams to lose focus during some games. With all of the traveling they will be doing, it will be hard for them not to just go through the motions during games. There will be games during this stretch where their offense isn’t there, and they aren’t shooting the ball well. However, they must remain committed and focus on the defensive side, as defense is the one thing that travels. If they can stay committed on defense they will be in every game of this stretch. Finally, if the Thunder lose focus during this stretch and are just going through the motions, it could turn into a losing streak, something the Thunder don’t want.
Why This Stretch in the Thunder’s Schedule is Important
This stretch for the Thunder is important for three reasons. The first one you don’t want to come out with a losing record and lose ground in the Western Conference. With how deep the Western Conference is, every game matters. Stretches like these can separate teams from getting the number top seed or falling to the 4th or 5th seed. The second reason is it builds mental toughness and character. When you go through a very tough stretch like this, it shows what your team is made of. Either you have a tough group mentally, or your team can lose focus easily and struggle during tough stretches of the season. Finally, the last reason is that it gives players chances to grow. With the injuries the Thunder are dealing with, certain players will get more crucial minutes, which allows them to grow and develop.
The Last Word
This stretch in the Thunder schedule will be the Thunder’s first real test schedule-wise of the season. This stretch could very well be the turning point in the season for the Thunder. Only time will tell if it will be good or bad results. However, the fans should feel very optimistic that this Thunder team will be able to get through this stretch with good results. As history tells us, whenever this Thunder team is hit with adversity or challenges, they usually respond positively.
