Head Coach: Billy Donovan (5th Season)
Record: 40-24 (5th in Western Conference)
All-Stars: 1 (Chris Paul – 10th)
Scoring Leaders: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19.3 PPG), Danilo Gallinari (19.2 PPG), Dennis Schroder (19.0 PPG)
Rebounding Leaders: Steven Adams (9.4 RPG), Gilgeous-Alexander (6.1 RPG), Gallinari (5.5 RPG)
Assists Leaders: Chris Paul (6.8 AST), Schroder (4.1 APG), Gilgeous-Alexander (3.3 APG)
Offense: 110.8 Points Scored/Game (18th)
Defense: 108.3 Points Allowed/Game (10th)
Key Wins: Rockets x2 (113-92, Jan.9; 112-107, Jan. 20), Jazz (104-90, Dec. 9), Nuggets (113-101, Feb. 21), Clippers (118-112, Dec. 22), Mavericks (106-101, Dec. 31), Raptors (98-97, Dec. 29), Celtics (105-104, Mar. 8)
Season Summary: The Thunder were expected to head into somewhat of a rebuilding phase this season after Paul George requested a trade to the LA Clippers to team up with Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook was reunited with James Harden on the Houston Rockets. However, the pieces that Oklahoma City got back in those trades galvanized the team, leading them to the 5th spot in the West and yet another playoff appearance. The Thunder’s success has been tied to its strong backcourt play. Chris Paul has rediscovered his All-Star form after a trade from the Rockets, second-year Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is blossoming into a future star, and Dennis Schroder has been one of the most impactful players off the bench in the league.
A fellow potential trade candidate himself before the season, big man Steven Adams has shored up the paint, while Danilo Gallinari – the other piece acquired with Gilgeous-Alexander in the Paul George trade – is shooting a sweltering 40.9% from downtown. As a team, the Thunder are sixth in the league in 2-point field goal percentage (53.6%) and seventh in free throw percentage (79.7%).
Memorable Moment: Oklahoma City pulled a rabbit out of a hat against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 6. With Karl-Anthony Towns at the free-throw line nursing a two-point lead with just one second left, Chris Paul alerted the referees that Minnesota’s Jordan Bell was checking in to the game with an untucked jersey, a technical foul that allowed the Thunder to cut the lead to one. After Towns made his second free throw, Steven Adams connected with Dennis Schroder on a full-court inbounds pass, and Schroder got the layup to fall as the buzzer sounded to force overtime. The Thunder went on to outscore the Timberwolves 17-5 in the additional five minutes for a 139-127 victory.
Player to Watch: Chris Paul – Some reports before the season were that the Rockets would have to include draft picks in a trade to get off of Paul’s contract – not to mention in a deal for a second star point guard – and many expected the Thunder to flip him once again after acquiring him for Westbrook. Instead, CP3 has embraced his new role with the Thunder and led the charge to a successful season. The veteran has taken young guards Gilgeous-Alexander and Schroder under his wing, while often deferring to them during games. But when the 4th quarter rolls along, Paul has been clutch. The 35-year-old is shooting 56.8% (21-of-37) on shots where the score is within 8 points in the final three minutes of the 4th quarter. The Point God may delegate to his other scorers during the rest of the game, but the Thunder rise or fall with him in crunch time.
