With a dominant 24-1 begin, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have positioned themselves squarely within the historic dialog reserved for the best regular-season groups the NBA has ever seen. They’ve now matched the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the very best 25-game begin in league historical past — and their underlying metrics recommend they could be even stronger than final 12 months’s championship group.
The Thunder tied Golden State’s file Wednesday night time by routing the Phoenix Suns, 138-89, within the NBA Cup quarterfinals, an emphatic assertion win that prolonged their streak of double-digit victories and continued a statistical profile in contrast to something the league has seen by way of 25 video games. Golden State in the end opened 24-0 earlier than dropping recreation 25 within the 2015-16 season, and went on to win 29 of their first 30 and 36 of their first 38 on their solution to a 73-win marketing campaign.
Oklahoma Metropolis is now on comparable footing — and in some methods forward of it.
A Traditionally Giant Scoring Margin
The Thunder broke the NBA’s all-time level differential file final season at +12.9 per recreation. By means of 25 video games this season, they’ve shattered even that tempo.
Their 49-point win over Phoenix pushed their scoring margin to +17.5 per recreation, the most important by way of 25 video games in league historical past. Solely the 2007-08 Boston Celtics come shut at this checkpoint (+13.9). Oklahoma Metropolis already has 17 wins by double digits, tying the second-most ever by way of 25 video games, and is now the primary franchise to file not less than 17 in back-to-back seasons.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have outscored its opponents by 437 factors this season. That’s 90 factors greater than any crew has ever outscored its opponents by way of the primary 25 video games of a season. OKC is in a very completely different stratosphere now and traditionally to this point.
h/t @bball_ref pic.twitter.com/zwatE0pwHj
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) December 11, 2025
Dominance has change into routine. Chris Youngblood’s 3-pointer with 5:25 remaining in opposition to Phoenix gave the Thunder a 50-point lead, the primary such margin in an NBA recreation this season. They’d prolong it to 53. Final season’s regular-season excessive was 44.
These aren’t remoted outbursts — they’re defining options of a crew burying opponents as a matter of nightly operation.
How the Thunder Evaluate to Historical past
Solely three groups in NBA historical past have reached this stage by way of 25 video games:
– 2025-26 Thunder: 24-1– 2015-16 Warriors: 24-1– 1995-96 Bulls: 23-2
The Warriors’ 73 wins stay the single-season file. Chicago’s 72 wins in 1995-96 stood for twenty years earlier than Golden State broke it. Each groups showcased relentless consistency, early however confronted pure pullbacks over the season’s second half.
These historic traits are essential. The 1996 Bulls started 41-3 however misplaced seven video games of their remaining 41. The 2016 Warriors began 24-0, then completed the 12 months 49-9. Even juggernauts sluggish — whether or not from attrition, pacing selections, or prioritizing postseason well being.
That context has stored some analysts cautious. The second half of a season usually delivers extra losses, more durable highway swings, and selections from contenders to prioritize playoffs over information. Golden State is remembered as a lot for his or her NBA Finals collapse as their 73 wins, a cautionary story Oklahoma Metropolis’s management won’t ignore.
Why This Thunder Group Might Break the Document
The case for Oklahoma Metropolis is evident: few defending champions have returned trying deeper, more healthy and extra explosive.
Final season, the Thunder completed 68-14 regardless of Chet Holmgren lacking 50 video games and Jalen Williams showing in solely 5. They nonetheless went 42-8 with out Holmgren, a testomony to roster infrastructure and training.
This season, Holmgren is wholesome, Williams is predicted to ramp up because the 12 months progresses, and the rotation is stacked with scoring and defensive versatility. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, is once more taking part in at that stage whereas main a top-three offense and the league’s finest protection. Oklahoma Metropolis presently has seven gamers averaging 12+ factors, and the bench — with contributors akin to Ajay Mitchell — is deeper than final 12 months’s championship unit.
Sportsbooks have responded accordingly. BetMGM lists the Thunder at +150 to win the title — the league’s finest odds — and provides them a 58 % implied chance of profitable 70 or extra video games with an over/beneath of 69.5 wins. FanDuel is providing +360 on 74+ wins and +580 on 75+ wins.
The schedule additionally presents alternative. Oklahoma Metropolis has simply 13 back-to-backs, tied for the fewest within the league, and has already weathered harm absences with just one loss. They’ve upcoming multi-city highway swings, together with a difficult February slate (Minnesota, Denver, San Antonio, Lakers), however their depth makes them unusually resilient.
Why the Document Nonetheless Might Not Fall
Even because the Thunder chase historical past, precedent warns in opposition to assuming something. Groups this dominant usually face diminishing returns later within the season — a mix of relaxation selections, scouting changes, schedule compression and long-term considering.
Simply final season, the Cleveland Cavaliers began 15-0 and got here up quick. Different dominant groups moreover that well-known 2015-16 Warriors crew to not win a title embrace the 1972-73 Boston Celtics (68-14) and two 67-15 groups: the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs and 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks. OKC is aware of a lot about these crew’s plights and appears to keep away from an identical season conclusion.
Oklahoma Metropolis performed 23 playoff video games final spring to win the championship, including vital mileage. They might discover themselves able to safe the No. 1 seed early, creating much more incentive to relaxation stars quite than pursue a file that historical past suggests doesn’t correlate with postseason success.
This Thunder crew is sweet sufficient to succeed in 70 wins — presumably even 73 or 74 — however their aspirations hinge on one other trophy, not a regular-season milestone.
Nonetheless, by way of 25 video games, the maths is simple. If any crew since Golden State is supplied to interrupt the NBA’s most towering file, it’s this one.
