How the OKC Thunder Could Advance in the NBA's In-Season Tournament

The Thunder still has a chance to win the NBA's inaugural tournament.

The Oklahoma City Thunder stumbled early, but are not out of the NBA's In-Season Tournament just yet.

The Thunder needs a lot of games to break their way, but a path to the knockout stage remains. The Thunder is 1-2 in group play, with one game left near the end of November.

In the In-Season Tournament, three groups of five from each conference play one tournament game against each group opponent. The winners of each group, along with a wildcard from each conference, advance to the knockout stage.

For Oklahoma City to win its group, it would need a tie for first place at 2-2. That would mean every team in West Group C has to finish at 2-2.

Considering that would include the San Antonio Spurs winning out and the Minnesota Timberwolves losing out, advancing via group play may not be the Thunder’s best chance at getting to the knockout stage. The Thunder could also get in as the wildcard team from the Western Conference.

In any case, Oklahoma City has to win a road game in Minnesota to move to 2-2. If it can come away with that win, it would need other second-place teams in the conference to finish 2-2.

Among other outcomes, the Thunder would need the loser of the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz game to lose their other remaining game because both Group A teams are undefeated through two games.

If the Thunder can get some games to go their way, whether in their group or others, they are in a great position to win any tiebreakers. Coupled with close losses in their first two tournament games, the Thunder’s 123-87 win against the Spurs on Tuesday gave them the second-best point differential in the west.

After head-to-head, point differential is the next tiebreaker for tied teams. Because head-to-head would be irrelevant to teams in other groups and be nullified in a five-way tie in Group C, point differential would likely break any ties for Oklahoma City.

Despite the rough start to group play, the Thunder still has a chance to gain meaningful playoff-like experience in the In-Season Tournament. While they need help to advance, the Thunder has a path there and may have an opportunity to clinch a spot in the knockout rounds when Nov. 28 comes around.

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