History favors OKC’s second title shot after breaking the 30-win plateau

For the second year in a row, Oklahoma City Thunder has 30 wins in the first 35 games of the regular season, which puts the defending champions in rare company. As Thunder chase back-to-back titles, his 35-game regular-season record is identical to the Chicago Bulls’ record for back-to-back seasons, which led to back-to-back championships in 1997. Oklahoma City hopes to do the same in 2026.

The Warriors in 2016-17, like the Thunder’s 30-5 record through 35 gamesthey were 30-5 through three consecutive seasons. Identical record in 35 games contributing to an NBA Finals appearance in recent history, according to Underdog NBA.

Teams to start 30-5 or better in consecutive seasons:

2025-26 Thunder
2024-25 Thunder (Champions)

2016-17 Warriors (Champions)
2015-16 Warriors (lost finals)
2014-15 Warriors (Champions)

1996-97 Bulls (Champions)
1995-96 Bulls (Champions) pic.twitter.com/ckNkOVahG6

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) January 3, 2026

The Thunder’s historic regular season has reached intriguing milestones synonymous with the Warriors and Bulls, two recent NBA dynasties, while Oklahoma City is on pace to make a similar run. The Thunder defeated the Warriors 131-94 on Friday, extending their winning streak to five.

The Thunder’s dominance in 2025 puts them with the Warriors, Bulls

The The Thunder finished 2025 with 86 winsputting them in the same company as those of the Warriors and Bulls dynasties amid their quest for another title. It’s the fifth win by an NBA team in a year, trailing only Stephen Curry’s Warriors in 2015 (88) and 2016 (87), the Phoenix Suns (88) in 2021 and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls (89) in 1996.

For the third year in a row, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate. The defending champion and MVP is averaging 32.1 points on 56.1% shooting, including 42.5% from deep, 6.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

The Thunder will look to improve on their 30-game winning streak when they face the Suns on the road before hosting the Hornets at the Paicom Center on Monday for the second night of back-to-back games.