Inside The Thunder

Stiles Points: OKC Thunder Get Glimpse of Playoff Basketball In Upcoming Stretch

The Oklahoma City Thunder have everything locked up before the calendar flips to April, though Mark Daigneault is quick to remind everyone that there is still plenty of chance left to improve.

Rylan Stiles

Mar 19, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) gestures after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Mar 19, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) gestures after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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This rest of this season feels pointless, on the outside looking in. Everyone around Bricktown sits in anticipation for the postseason with daily will they or won't they debates raging on about this Oklahoma City Thunder squad.

That is a testament to the Thunder's success. Unlike most teams around the NBA still scrambling to solidify seeding –– either in the playoffs or in the tank wars –– the Thunder have already found security. Oklahoma City has the No. 1 seed clinched which grants them a playoff spot, a division banner and home court advantage at least through the Western Conference Playoffs.

Yet, there are still 12 games remaining on the docket for Oklahoma City until they enjoy a week off before starting their championship quest in the 2025 NBA playoffs. When head coach Mark Daigneault was posed with the question of how to avoid this team from coasting to the finish line, he was quick to remind the assembled media about this upcoming stretch.

"We got to play with a sense of purpose. You can't coast into the postseason. The postseason is the highest level of play and we are going to have a week after our last game to prep, so we gotta stay on it," Daigneault said. "We have to stay sharpe, we have to stay in rhythm, we have to confident and we have to improve. 12 games is a lot of games...Our next ten games is all against teams that are playoff or play-in right now so they all have something to play for, they are all going to want the games, they are all going to be up to play against us. These are great challenges for us."

That stretch starts on Sunday when the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to take on the L.A. Clippers before wrapping up a two game road swing with the Sacramento Kings, two potential first round opponents.

From there, the Thunder return home to take on the Grizzles (No. 5 in West), Pacers (No. 4 in East), Bulls (No. 9 in East) and Pistons (No.6 in East). After a quick trip down to take on the Rockets (No. 2 in West) the Thunder return home for a baseball-style two game series against the Los Angeles Lakers (No. 4 in West) before ending this run of postseason teams in Phoenix against the Suns (No. 10 in West).

The Thunder's regular season slate fizzles out with the final two contests being against tanking teams (Jazz and Pelicans) but before that face all postseason teams with plenty of possible matchups.

This week should get full investment from the Thunder and its observes as there are plenty of details to learn about both Oklahoma City and their opponets that will be things everyone looks back on when previewing future playoff matchups.

Song of the Day: The Waiting by Tom Petty

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Rylan Stiles
RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is Lead Beat Writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network. 

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