Thunder Extend Winning Streak to 11, Dominate Pistons

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Oklahoma City Thunder secured their 11th consecutive victory by defeating the short-handed Detroit Pistons 119-103 on Wednesday night, further solidifying their path to the playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with an impressive 33 points, further enhancing his MVP campaign. In addition, Jalen Williams contributed 23 points, while Chet Holmgren added a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing the depth of Oklahoma City’s roster.

The Thunder now hold a three-game lead over their nearest competitor, the Denver Nuggets, as they aim for the league’s best overall record and home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

Detroit’s Tim Hardaway Jr. led his team with 23 points, stepping up for All-Star Cade Cunningham, who was sidelined with a bruised left calf. The Pistons also missed three other players due to suspensions following a recent incident. It was a challenging night for Detroit, which struggled to match the depth of Oklahoma City.

Commissioner Adam Silver attended the game, and he witnessed the Thunder’s dominant performance, beginning with Lu Dort’s tip-in just before halftime, which gave Oklahoma City a 65-59 lead.

Oklahoma City emerged strong in the second half, starting with a 10-0 run that extended their lead to 75-59. The Pistons made a late effort to come back, narrowing the gap to four points in the final quarter. However, the Thunder closed out the game decisively.

“Good execution down the stretch in that part of the game when things stalled. You’ve got to just execute in the halfcourt,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. “For the most part, we were really good there.”

The statistics highlighted the disparity in performance: the Pistons committed 18 turnovers compared to the Thunder’s 10, while Oklahoma City posted a 44% shooting percentage from the field.

In the end, the Thunder outscored Detroit 12-0 in the closing minutes, sealing the victory and setting a franchise record of 29-1 against Eastern Conference teams this season. This 96.7% winning percentage marks the best in league history against an opposing conference.

The victory sets the Thunder on a promising trajectory as they approach the playoffs, with six games remaining. The team’s next challenge will come against the Houston Rockets on Friday, followed by a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.