Thunder confirm their place in Vegas and the best start in history!

Simply irresistible. The Thunder made a short paper on Suns Wednesday (138-89) to reach the final four of the NBA Cup. This demo offers players Mark Daigneault another place in NBA annals, with a record of 24w-1d after 25 games.

To achieve that, the reigning champions didn’t hold their own against the Suns. Absent during the last match against the Jazz, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is well dressed, but it’s his friend from the back line, Cason Wallacewho sets the tone with an interception in his hands Collin Gillespie and goes for a layup after 12 seconds of play. Mark Williams responds by dunking on a pick-and-roll, and 23 seconds into the game, the two teams are one-on-one. Phoenix doesn’t know it yet, but it will be the last time tonight. The defensive intensity of Wallace, the aggressiveness of “SGA” and Jalen Williamsthen the external address Chet Holmgren : The Thunder seem to be in full gear already (17-7). The Suns are trying to fight back, but they’re just not up to the task in all areas. And substitutes Ajay Mitchell or Alec Caruso added another layer and gave Oklahoma City a 20-point advantage after only ten minutes of play (36-16).

12 minutes and the fate is decided

The solution comes from the bench briefly for Fenix, with good passes from Jordan Goodwin or Jamaree Bouiebringing the gap back to 11 lengths (45-34, 16′). But this Thunder sanctions the slightest relaxation. And he doesn’t do it halfway through, with a 3-point fest to end the second quarter. OKC hits seven times from behind the arc in the last six minutes of the first period! It is already faltering despite the efforts of Dillon Brooksthe guests are on their knees at the break with a 26-point deficit (74-48).

And the Sun is not at the end of its troubles. Holmgren is delighted with the restart, and then Oklahoma City continues its good habits: great defense, transition and a steamroller in motion. Gilgeous-Alexander (28 points, 8 assists in 27 minutes) signs two consecutive interceptions for dunks, then sends Holmgren (24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks in 25 minutes) high, the gap grows to 36 lengths. The phoenix no longer knows how to stop the bleeding and lets the frustration overcome him as Grayson Allensent off for a bad tackle on Holmgren.

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The second period is nothing but a dreary procession to humiliation for the Phoenix and a walk in the park for the Thunder. Ousmane Dieng he took advantage of the opportunity to show off with 11 points in an uneventful fourth quarter. Brandon Carlson do the same, and the gap widens to 53 points, before falling below 50 points, “to the credit”.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– There was simply no match. We talked about the key to the match the need to prevent the Suns from getting out of control from the start of the match. Missed, with a lone Thunder team in the first quarter. Oklahoma City took advantage of the Suns’ mistakes (34 turnovers) and also had a great shooting night (22/40 from 3-point range). You wonder what you can do against such a well-oiled machine…

– 24-1, OKC tied with the historic Warriors. And 16 straight for Oklahoma City, still undefeated at the Pike Center since the restart. This crazy record legitimizes the debate a little more: What if the Thunder beat Golden State’s 2015-2016 record? When he plays like this, the current champion can fully claim.

– OKC back in Las Vegas. Like last season, Oklahoma City will be in the final four of the NBA Cup. The Thunder will go on to become the first team from the West to do it two years in a row in this competition, after the Bucks did it in 2023 and 2024 in the East. Now the goal is to win this event and forget the very complicated final of last season.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.