Stiles Points: OKC Thunder Reaffirm Contender Status With Win Over Kings

The fully healthy OKC Thunder affirmed their contending status with a comeback over the Sacramento Kings.

Apr 9, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The playoffs are right around the corner and with each passing day the conversation around who is a contender and who is a pretender grows louder and louder. As the bickering bludgeon the basketball dialogue for the next week, the Oklahoma City Thunder (54-25) have reserved a seat at the contenders stable.

On Tuesday, the OKC Thunder played at full strength with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (quad) and Jalen Williams (ankle) returning to action for the first time in over a week. Those two did not skip a beat making a perfect symphony with the roar of the crowd, egging them on while screaming with their own play that a new contender has arrived.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were thrown on the ropes, taking a shot to the sternum and a left hook to the eye on their way to being down 20 in the blink of an eye. It was as if the basketball was the size of a ping-pong ball for Keon Ellis who tossed in eight 3-pointers while De'Aron Fox knocked in seven triples of his own to help the Kings swell their lead.

Though the Thunder would not be pinned to the mat, instead, Oklahoma City came out swinging in the third quarter trimming the lead to ten, then eight, then three on their way to taking a fourth-quarter lead that eventually led to their seven-point win over Sacramento.

Despite the Purple rain in the first half, Oklahoma City got the game within striking distance and turned it over to their superstar.

That is what the playoffs are all about in a star-driven league, how many stars would you pick over Gilgeous-Alexander in the clutch? It is a short list as the MVP candidate rattles off 40 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two assists, two steals and as many blocks.

As Gilgeous-Alexander was serenaded by the crowd cascading M-V-P chants down on him during each of his 20 free throws, the Thunder superstar did something he hadn't done before. He let them in. Fist-pumping vigorously toward them after blocking one of Ellis' 18 3-pointers at the end of the third frame, punting the ball aside at the buzzer to cup his ear pleading for more praise and capping it off by clapping hands with a sea of fans courtside.

A rare emotional outburst from the Thunder's star as if to stake claim to a kingdom that has long been waiting to give him the keys. After yet another double-digit comeback, Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder continue to show they are contenders.

They say styles make fights, but the Thunder are able to conform to whatever style is required to get the win. Despite Sacramento's sensational start they finish the game shooting just 34 percent from the floor and behind the tape and only ahead by seven on the glass as the Kings kick the ball around the court to the tune of 17 turnovers.

The Thunder can win an uptempo game, can buckle in defensive to grind out a contest, or shoot the lights out of the gym to out-duel their Wild West counterpart like Wild Bill Hickok.

However you want to play, the cards are in Oklahoma City's favor with one of the league's brightest stars, smartest coaches, supporting cast and rambunctious crowds.

Stiles Points

• The Oklahoma City Blue fell in game one of the NBA G League Finals to the Maine Celtics on Tuesday. This leaves the Blue a game away from elimination in the best of three set. Oklahoma City will host game two of the series on Thursday.
• OKC Thunder two-way forward Keyontae Johnson left the Blue game early after a nasty fall playing just four minutes in this contest.
• Victor Wembanyama's playing status is "uncertain," according to the Spurs following Tuesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
• The Minnesota Timberwolves face off with the Denver Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday which will go a long way in deciding the top seed in the Western Conference. The OKC Thunder sit a game out of the top seed with a game against the Spurs on deck.

Song of the Day: Do it Again by Steely Dan.

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