Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA in clutch points (175) AND plus-minus (+93) despite sitting out 25 fourth quarters. My preseason article that did not age well: www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

OKC: 52 paint points, 13 steals, 34 points off turnovers PHX: 24 paint points, three steals, two points off turnovers (not a typo)

GAME 1 FINAL: Thunder 119, Suns 84 OKC made 12 more 2-pointers (on three more attempts) OKC made one more 3-pointer (on seven more attempts) OKC forced 11 more turnovers OKC grabbed five more offensive rebounds OKC made eight more free throws (on five more attempts)

END 3Q: Thunder 97, Suns 66 OKC: 15 offensive rebounds, four turnovers, 21-for-23 free throws PHX: 12-for-33 twos, 12 offensive rebounds SGA: 25 points (5-for-18 shooting), seven assists, zero turnovers Jalen Williams: 18 points, six assists, six rebounds, zero turnovers

HALFTIME: Thunder 65, Suns 44 OKC: 15 assists/four turnovers, 17-for-28 twos, 13-for-14 free throws PHX: Nine turnovers, 7-for-22 twos Holmgren: 16 points, seven rebounds, four stocks SGA: 15 points on 4-for-11 shooting, three assists Oso Ighodaro: Seven offensive rebounds

END 1Q: Thunder 35, Suns 20 OKC: Seven offensive rebounds, 8-for-8 free throws PHX: 4-for-9 twos, 3-for-12 threes Chet Holmgren: 13 points (including buzzer-beating 3-pointer) on 83.8% true shooting, six rebounds (two offensive), two steals, one block

LAKERS/ROCKETS GAME 1 FOUR FACTORS LAL made six more 2s (on 13 fewer attempts) HOU made one more three (on 14 more attempts) HOU forced five more turnovers HOU grabbed 18 more offensive rebounds HOU and LAL made 17 free throws HOU DOMINATED possession battle but lost anyway.

Here are my 2025-26 NBA awards selections! I’m threading explanations for the top row. Questions for the more nuanced team picks are more than welcome. For transparency, I used (actual) estimated plus-minus wins as a guideline.

Even as the stakes get lower — a first-round Game 7, a 9/10 play-in game — these Steph Curry performances never feel less remarkable. Savor them while you still can.

Here’s a Basketball starter pack full of hidden gems for the start of postseason play. All great follows with less than 5k followers currently. Some with less than 100 followers all posting good basketball content on the number one app for sports. @bsky.app

Much respect, Indiana. Somewhat related: Game 6 of last year’s Finals was the most electric sporting event I’ve ever attended. Thunder stood no chance that night.

Check out the pay increases for WNBA rookies versus last year 👀 No. 1 pick salary up from $78K to $500K

The Detroit Pistons were the best team in the NBA against top 10 opponents, finishing 17-7 with a +5.6 net rating in those games The Spurs and Thunder were also above .500 in such games

Counting stats do not necessarily reflect impact. I have used four factor analysis for a couple years now because team performance comes down to two-way scoring efficiency (from field goals), two-way turnovers, two-way rebounding and two-way free throw rate – in that order.

Numerous NBA players possess 99.9th percentile height. It’s almost necessary to enter the league, let alone dominate. Wembanyama is significantly more mobile and significantly more well-rounded on offense than every other giant among giants throughout basketball history. Can’t use that against him.

Comparing three MVP candidates by unofficial criteria: POINTS PER 100 POSSESSIONS: SGA 45.3, Wembanyama 41.2, Jokic 38.8 NET RATING: Wembanyama +16.8, SGA +16.1, Jokic +10.9 WIN PERCENTAGE: SGA 82.4%, Wembanyama 78.1%, Jokic 66.2% Wembanyama’s also the best defender on Earth – food for thought.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (82/82!) PHX made 13 more 2-pointers (on 11 more attempts) PHX made two more 3-pointers (on five fewer attempts) OKC forced one more turnover PHX grabbed four more offensive rebounds PHX and OKC each made three free throws FINAL RECORD: 64-18.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (81/82) OKC made two more 2-pointers (on five more attempts) DEN made seven more 3-pointers (on one fewer attempt) OKC forced three more turnovers OKC grabbed five more offensive rebounds DEN made three more free throws (on one more attempt) 64-17.

Thanks to another dominant regular season, OKC has positioned itself beautifully entering the 2026 NBA playoffs. The defending champion experienced predictable record and net rating regression, but will still finish No. 1 in the NBA for each category. www.si.com/nba/thunder/...

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (80/82) OKC made nine more 2-pointers (on five fewer attempts) LAC made one more 3-pointer (on two fewer attempts) Both teams forced 13 turnovers LAC grabbed four more offensive rebounds OKC made three more free throws (on equal attempts as LAC)

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (79/82) OKC made one more 2-pointer (on one more attempt) OKC made 12 more 3-pointers (on 15 more attempts) OKC forced five more turnovers OKC grabbed two more offensive rebounds LAL made two more free throws (on 17 more attempts) 63-16.

MICHIGAN/UCONN FOUR FACTORS MCH made seven more 2-pointers (on five more attempts) CON made seven more 3-pointers (on 18 more attempts) MCH forced one more turnover CON grabbed 10 more offensive boards MCH made 13 more free throws (on 12 more attempts) Congrats, Wolverines.

MICHIGAN/UCONN HALFTIME FOUR FACTORS MCH has made six more 2s (on seven more attempts) CON has made five more 3s (on seven more attempts) MCH has forced two more turnovers Both have grabbed eight offensive rebounds MCH has made seven more free throws (on six more attempts)

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (78/82) OKC made one more 2-pointer (on 14 fewer attempts) OKC made 10 more 3-pointers (on six more attempts) OKC forced one more turnover UTA grabbed six more offensive rebounds OKC made three more free throws (on one more attempt) 62-16.

NUGGETS VS. SPURS FOUR FACTORS SAS made two more 2-pointers (on two more attempts) DEN made four more 3-pointers (on one more attempt) DEN forced three more turnovers SAS grabbed four more offensive rebounds SAS made six more free throws (on five more attempts) Amazing game.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (77/82) OKC made nine more 2-pointers (on 11 more attempts) OKC made 12 more 3-pointers (on 12 more attempts) OKC forced eight more turnovers OKC grabbed five more offensive rebounds LAL made 11 more free throws (on 14 more attempts) 61-16.

Through first 7:12: OKC 11-for-18 (8-for-13 twos) with one turnover, LAL 1-for-7 (0-for-3 twos) with eight turnovers

Recent NBA superstars’ career-high on-court net rating: 2015-16 Curry (MVP): +17.7 2024-25 SGA (MVP): +16.7 2016-17 Durant: +15.7 2019-20 Antetokounmpo (MVP): +15.4 2022-23 Jokic: +12.5 2017-18 Harden (MVP): +10.0 2024-25 Doncic: +9.1 …. Current Victor Wembanyama: +17.3

2025-26 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in clutch time: 175 points (No. 1 in NBA) on 66.8% true shooting +93 plus-minus (No. 1 in NBA) 39 made 2-pointers (No. 1 in NBA) 13 made 3-pointers (T-No. 1 in NBA) 58 made free throws (No. 1 in NBA) 21 assists, seven turnovers 20-7 record

Paul Reed, stepping in for All-Star Jalen Duren, recorded 21 points on 63.6% true shooting, 10 rebounds (four offensive), four blocks, two assists and a steal. He drained a janky triple for good measure. Go Blue Demons!

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (76/82) OKC made three more 2-pointers (on seven fewer attempts) DET made six more 3-pointers (on nine more attempts) DET forced one more turnover DET grabbed nine more offensive rebounds OKC made 16 more free throws (on nine more attempts) 60-16.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (75/82) OKC made four more 2-pointers (on equal attempts as NYK) NYK made five more 3-pointers (on seven more attempts) OKC forced five more turnovers NYK grabbed three more offensive rebounds OKC made 18 more free throws (on 21 more attempts) 59-16.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (74/82) OKC made seven more 2-pointers (on five more attempts) CHI made one more 3-pointer (on two more attempts) OKC forced three more turnovers OKC grabbed five more offensive rebounds OKC made seven more free throws (on 10 more attempts) 58-16.

2025-26 SAS in Victor Wembanyama’s 1,694 minutes: +17.3 net rating, 103.5 defensive rating 2025-26 SAS in the other 1,815 minutes: -0.1 net rating, 113.7 defensive rating

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (73/82) OKC made six more 2-pointers (on three more attempts) BOS made six more 3-pointers (on four more attempts) OKC forced six more turnovers BOS grabbed three more offensive rebounds BOS made four more free throws (on three more attempts) 57-16.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (72/82) OKC made six more 2-pointers (on one more attempt) OKC made one more 3-pointer (on five fewer attempts) OKC committed one fewer turnover PHI grabbed one more offensive rebound OKC made five more free throws (on one more attempt) 57-15, W12.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (71/82) OKC made 14 more 2-pointers (on 11 more attempts) WAS made five more 3-pointers (on nine more attempts) OKC committed two fewer turnovers OKC grabbed eight more offensive rebounds OKC made eight more free throws (on 12 more attempts) 56-15.

SOUTH FLORIDA/LOUISVILLE FOUR FACTORS USF made 10 more twos (on 17 more attempts) LOU made eight more threes (on eight fewer attempts) USF forced 13 more turnovers USF grabbed seven more offensive boards USF and LOU made 14 free throws (LOU nine more shots) LOU won by four.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (70/82) OKC made 13 more 2-pointers (on six more attempts) OKC made three more 3-pointers (equal attempts as BKN) OKC committed six fewer turnovers BKN grabbed two more offensive rebounds BKN made six more free throws (on nine more attempts) 55-15.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (69/82) OKC made 11 more 2-pointers (on 18 more attempts) ORL made eight more 3-pointers (on 21 more attempts) OKC committed two fewer turnovers OKC grabbed one more offensive rebound OKC made seven more free throws (on seven more attempts) 54-15.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (68/82) OKC made six more 2-pointers (on 17 more attempts) OKC and MIN made 15 3-pointers (MIN seven fewer attempts) OKC forced 15 more turnovers OKC grabbed seven more offensive rebounds OKC made one more free throw (on three fewer attempts) 53-15.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (67/82) OKC made seven more 2-pointers (on five fewer attempts) BOS made two more 3-pointers (on two fewer attempts) OKC and BOS forced 12 turnovers BOS grabbed one more offensive rebound BOS made six more free throws (on three more attempts) 52-15.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (66/82) DEN made two more 2-pointers (on 15 more attempts) OKC made four more 3-pointers (on 10 more attempts) OKC committed four fewer turnovers DEN grabbed 13 more offensive rebounds DEN made five more free throws (on eight more attempts) 51-15.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight: 35 points on 11-for-14 twos, 3-for-7 threes, 4-for-4 free throws 15 assists, zero turnovers Nine rebounds Two blocks One steal He drilled back-to-back triples on OKC’s last two possessions, including the game-winner with 2.7 seconds left.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (65/82) GSW made four more 2-pointers (on seven more attempts) OKC made one more 3-pointer (on three fewer attempts) GSW forced three more turnovers GSW grabbed eight more offensive rebounds OKC made 12 more free throws (on six more attempts) 50-15.

Best net rating since Jan. 1: 1. CHA, +11.9 2. DET, +9.6 3. BOS, +9.3 4. SAS, +8.4 5. OKC, +7.1 Best offensive rating since Jan. 1: 1. CHA, 120.8 2. CLE, 118.7 3. BOS, 118.6 4. DEN, 116.6 5. MIN, 116.5 CHA has won 21 2026 games (No. 1 in NBA), including +29 @ BOS, +27 @ OKC, +23 @ DEN, +18 @ LAL

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (64/82) NYK made 10 more 2-pointers (on 22 more attempts) OKC made six more 3-pointers (on seven more attempts) NYK committed two fewer turnovers NYK grabbed nine more offensive rebounds OKC made five more free throws (on three more attempts) 49-15.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (63/82) OKC made 11 more 2-pointers (on 16 more attempts) CHI made seven more 3-pointers (on seven more attempts) OKC committed 10 turnovers OKC grabbed two more offensive rebounds OKC made seven more free throws (on five more attempts) 48-15.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (62/82) OKC made 11 more 2-pointers (on one fewer attempt) DAL made one more 3-pointer (on eight fewer attempts) OKC committed nine fewer turnovers DAL grabbed two more offensive rebounds DAL made two more free throws (on one more attempt) 47-15.

OKC THUNDER FOUR FACTORS (61/82) OKC made nine more 2-pointers (on nine more attempts) DEN made six more 3-pointers (on 13 more attempts) OKC committed five fewer turnovers DEN grabbed three more offensive rebounds OKC made six more free throws (on five more attempts) 46-15.