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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 31: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander # 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder strolls off … [+] of the court after fouling out of the video game versus Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 31, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. KEEP IN MIND TO USER: User specifically acknowledges and concurs that, by downloading and/or utilizing this photo, User is granting the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
With 4 video games left in the 2022-23 project, the Oklahoma City Thunder are well placed to play beyond the routine season. They’re 38-40 going into Sunday with 4 video games staying.
At this moment, it’s basically a two-team race to make the last area in the play-in competition. The No. 10 seed is a fight in between the Thunder and Dallas Mavericks, although the Utah Jazz do have a little outdoors possibility of getting in the mix. Dallas is 37-41, a complete video game back of Oklahoma City. The Thunder likewise own the tiebreaker over the Mavs, suggesting they would need to end up the season with another win than the Thunder to leap them in the standings. This is a substantial benefit for the Thunder, which goes to demonstrate how crucial every routine season contest winds up being.
What this indicates for OKC is that there’s a high likelihood that the group winds up making an area in the play-in. The course to clinching does not need an incredible near the season, however rather simply a number of wins.
The Thunder hold their own fate.
With 4 video games left, Oklahoma City instantly clinches an area in the play-in with 3 or more wins. If the Thunder get 2 wins, that will likewise suffice to clinch an area unless the Mavericks go unbeaten the remainder of the method. Simply one win in the next 4 for OKC would indicate Dallas still needs to end up 3-1 to go beyond the Thunder, which is a hard roadway for the Mavs. In a worst case circumstance for Oklahoma City, going the remainder of the season without a win still offers the group a good chance at a play-in area, as the Mavericks would need to win half of their video games over the last 4 to leap the Thunder because winless situation.
Oklahoma City’s last 4 video games protest groups that are either in the postseason photo or simply beyond it. 2 of these video games are on the roadway, where the Thunder have actually struggled this season.
- April 2: Phoenix Suns
- April 4: at Golden State Warriors
- April 6: at Utah Jazz
- April 9: Memphis Grizzlies
Dallas does have what might be thought about one fairly simple win to close the season, however the roadway to get to that point will be challenging.
- April 2: at Atlanta Hawks
- April 5: Sacramento Kings
- April 7: Chicago Bulls
- April 9: San Antonio Spurs
As high as the Mavericks’ ceiling is Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, that duo hasn’t had the ability to produce wins. Dallas has a hard time to play defense, which has actually been damaging over the previous a number of weeks.
Simply put, Oklahoma City has a fair bit of breathing space despite how the Mavs surface. 3 wins ensures an area, however 2 wins most likely gets the Thunder in too, while one must likewise make them feel comfy. Instead of stress over what Dallas does, the Thunder legally hold their own fate this season. Beyond a three-way tie situation that might break OKC, the head-to-head situation with the Mavericks is simple.
These last 4 video games will make or break the Thunder’s postseason hopes, however in either case it’s been a really effective season in which the youngest group in the NBA considerably surpassed expectations. The outcomes of the next 4 video games will either produce incredibly important postseason minutes for the up and coming group, or greater lottery game chances.