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Ranking the OKC Thunder's top 10 wins from the first half of the 2023-24 NBA season
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- Ranking the OKC Thunder's top 10 wins from the first half of the 2023-24 NBA season
The Thunder began its second half of the season with a statement win.
OKC earned a 102-97 road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. With the victory, the Thunder (29-13) is now one game behind the Timberwolves (30-12) for the top spot in the Western Conference standings.
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Here's a look at the top 10 wins OKC earned during the first half of its 82-game regular season:
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10. Thunder 134, Jazz 129 (Jan. 18)
Utah entered the matchup as the hottest team in the league.
The Jazz won 12 of its last 14 games and six straight, but it couldn't defeat the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 31 points and six assists, while Jalen Williams chipped in 27 points and eight assists.
9. Thunder 111, Suns 99 (Nov. 12)
OKC trailed by six points entering the fourth quarter of its road game against Phoenix.
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But the Thunder outscored the Suns , who were without Devin Booker , 31-13 in the final quarter to walk out with a victory. Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams recorded 35 and 31 points, respectively.
8. Thunder 134, Clippers 115 (Dec. 21)
Once again, OKC found itself facing the hottest team in the league.
The Clippers entered the contest on a nine-game win streak, but the Thunder halted their momentum. Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 31 points and eight rebounds.
7. Thunder 126, Mavs 120 (Dec. 2)
It looked like this road game had gotten away from the Thunder.
Dallas went on a 30-0 run — the largest unanswered run in the play-by-play era — to claim a six-point with 4:18 left in the game. But OKC made a late push of its own and emerged victorious thanks in large part to Williams, who finished with 23 points and five rebounds.
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6. Thunder 130, Warriors 123, OT (Nov. 18)
Chet Holmgren played the role of the hero.
The rookie drilled a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime, and OKC ultimately secured the hard-earned road win. Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren finished with 40 and 36 points, respectively.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, scores against Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, middle, and forward Dario Saric during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
5. Thunder 139, Trail Blazers 77 (Jan. 11)
OKC's 62-point win marked its largest margin of victory in franchise history.
Of course, the blowout win came against a struggling Portland team. But it showed the strides OKC has made since it suffered a record-setting 73-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in December 2021.
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4. Thunder 129, Timberwolves 106 (Dec. 26)
OKC defeated the top team in the Western Conference standings in dominating fashion.
The Thunder earned a 23-point victory at home, and Gilgeous-Alexander shined with 34 points and nine assists. Williams (21), Holmgren (20) and Lu Dort (20) also scored at least 20 points.
3. Thunder 119, Nuggets 93 (Dec. 29)
The defending champions were no match for OKC.
The Thunder waltzed out of Denver with a 26-point win over the Nuggets . And in a game that also featured two-time MVP Nikola Jokic , Gilgeous-Alexander stole the show by scoring 40 points in 33 minutes.
2. Thunder 127, Celtics 123 (Jan. 2)
OKC delivered a statement in a home win over the Boston Celtics , who boast the best record in the NBA.
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Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 36 points, but Josh Giddey also had himself a day. He recorded 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
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1. Thunder 118, Nuggets 117 (Dec. 16)
Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrate after defeating the Nuggets on Dec. 16 at Ball Arena in Denver.
The young Thunder didn't shy away from the big stage.
OKC defeated Denver on the road in thrilling fashion, and Gilgeous-Alexander delivered the dagger. He drilled a stepback jumper with 1.1 seconds left in the game to lift the Thunder to its most impressive win of the season.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder top 10 wins from the first half of the 2023-24 NBA season
