The Oklahoma City Thunder etched their name into the franchise history books on Thursday night, securing a team-record 61st victory of the season with a commanding 125-104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with a game-high 37 points, while Jalen Williams added 20 points and Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds. The victory extended the Thunder�s win streak to eight games, further solidifying their dominance in the Western Conference.
The Thunder, who have already clinched the Western Conference title with a league-best 61-12 record, pulled away in the final seven minutes of the game, turning a tied contest into a lopsided triumph. Canadian guard Luguentz Dort reflected on the milestone, saying, �It feels good. It just shows how much we�re getting better throughout all the years � and we�ve got to run through the finish line.� Dort also highlighted the team�s fourth-quarter surge, noting, �We started getting our groove in the fourth quarter and started moving the ball, getting some steals and going up and down.�
Despite their regular-season success, the Thunder have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2016, making their postseason performance a key focus as the season nears its climax.
�Giddey�s Mid-Court Magic Sinks Lakers
In a thrilling finish in Chicago, Australia�s Josh Giddey delivered a moment of magic, swishing a half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Chicago Bulls a dramatic 119-117 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Giddey, who recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, inbounded the ball from under Chicago�s basket, received a return pass, and launched the game-winning shot from the edge of the mid-court circle. The 22-year-old from Melbourne was mobbed by teammates as the United Center erupted in celebration.
�That�s a Bulls win,� Giddey said as he walked off the court to a standing ovation. The shot came after Austin Reaves had given the Lakers a 117-116 lead with just 3.1 seconds remaining. Coby White led Chicago with 26 points, while Reaves paced the Lakers with 30. Luka Doncic added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, and LeBron James contributed 17 points and 12 assists.
Other NBA Action
Elsewhere, the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers (59-14) secured a 124-116 home win over the San Antonio Spurs, powered by Donovan Mitchell�s 25 points and 14 assists, and Jarrett Allen�s 29 points and 15 rebounds. In Dallas, Jaden Hardy came off the bench to score 22 points, leading the Mavericks to a 101-92 victory over the Orlando Magic, despite a 35-point effort from Paolo Banchero.
Tyler Herro�s 36 points propelled the Miami Heat to a 122-112 win over the Atlanta Hawks, while Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers with 29 points in a 162-109 rout of the Washington Wizards, with nine Pacers players scoring in double figures. In Utah, Turkey�s Alperen Sengun tallied 33 points and 10 rebounds as the Houston Rockets, with seven players in double digits, defeated the Jazz 121-110.
As the NBA season heads toward the playoffs, the Thunder and Cavaliers continue to set the pace in their respective conferences, while Giddey�s heroics provided a memorable highlight in a night of high-octane basketball action.
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