OKC Thunder Have Luxury of Cruising to Top Seed, Magic Number 14

The Oklahoma City Thunder are having a fantastic season to date with a 44-10 record. They are cruising their way to the No. 1 overall seed out West with a magi number of 14.

Feb 13, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) prepares to play the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images / Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder are taking on the Utah Jazz in its first game back from the NBA All-Star Break. With a 44-10 record, Oklahoma City has positioned itself to cruise to the No. 1 overall seed.

The Thunder's magic number is 14, on Feb. 21. That is a perfect illustration of how excellent they have been this season. Oklahoma City would have to go 14-14 in the final 28 games with Denver and/or Memphis going 28-0 in that span for the Thunder to lose the top seed out West.

Oklahoma City has shown an ability to beat the teams they are supposed to, which will lead to a better than .500 mark in this span to grab the No. 1 seed for the second straight season.

The Thunder are only 17 wins away from tying the franchise's season high wins mark (61) and 18 away from topping it over the course of the next 28 games.

Another bonus for the Thunder beyond just its eight game cushion is the health turning a corner. Oklahoma City for the first time all season will play a game with its top rotational pieces available in Utah on Friday. If this can remain the case over the course of the next 28 tilts, the Thunder could be even better.

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