The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Brooklyn Nets on the road at 6:30 p.m. CST Wednesday, hoping to bounce back from their recent overtime loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With their record sitting at 46-11, the Thunder are currently leading the Western Conference and are aiming to maintain their dominance against the Nets, who are struggling with injuries and their performance, holding a season record of 21-36.
The Thunder fell short on February 24, losing to the Timberwolves 131-128 after an overtime period where star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points but missed key shots late in the game. “It hurts in the moment,” he reflected on the loss. “But we have (25) games left. The 82-game season is an opportunity to get 82 times to get ready for the long grind of the playoffs.” After this close call, OKC is seeking to avoid consecutive losses for only the second time this season, having previously lost back-to-back games in mid-November.
The Thunder previously faced the Nets on January 19 and secured an impressive 127-101 victory, showcasing their offensive strength by shooting 55.2 percent and making 19 three-pointers. They are 11-4 since this win, featuring consistent performances from standout players like Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie Chet Holmgren.
For the Nets, they are struggling through the season with key injuries affecting their lineup. Leading scorer Cam Thomas is out with a left hamstring strain, contributing to their issues as they look to avoid being swept by the Thunder in the regular season series. Their latest game resulted in a 107-99 loss against the Washington Wizards, where they faced challenges, shooting only 39.3 percent from the field and committing 15 turnovers. Despite this, Brooklyn has improved somewhat, going 7-3 over the last ten games, and they are within reach of Eastern Conference play-in spot.
On the injury front, the Thunder will once again be without Branden Carlson, Alex Ducas, Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell, and Nikola Topic. For the Nets, the situation is even worse, as they will be missing Nic Claxton due to suspension and several other players including Noah Clowney and Cameron Johnson, who is listed as questionable.
The projected starting lineups for both teams highlight the Thunder's depth and the challenges the Nets will face. Oklahoma City is expected to start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein, all bringing strong season averages to the contest. Meanwhile, the Nets are projected to start Killian Hayes, Keon Johnson, Ziaire Williams, Cameron Johnson, and Day'Ron Sharpe, who are less established statistically.
This game will be broadcast on the FanDuel Sports Network, and with the Thunder's record and the Nets' struggles, it’s expected to be another difficult night for Brooklyn, who are fighting to stay competitive amid the injury turmoil.
With the playoffs looming and the Thunder aiming to retain their form, this match is pivotal for Oklahoma City as they look to reinforce their position atop the Western Conference and build momentum leading up to the postseason.