One East Coast road trip. Six days. Three wins. One loss.
The Oklahoma City Thunder hit the road for one of—if not the toughest tests of the season—at least on the front half of the trip. First up: the Cleveland Cavaliers, who boast the best record in the NBA (33-5), followed by a rematch against MVP candidate Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks, sitting at 26-15 on the season.
The second half of the trip featured a matchup with the league’s worst Washington Wizards (6-32) and the underachieving Philadelphia 76ers (15-22).
Aside from a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle against Cleveland, OKC efficiently handled their business, running through the East Coast and defeating the Knicks, Wizards, and Sixers by an average margin of 27.3 points.
This team’s dominance is undeniable. The Thunder sit comfortably atop the Western Conference at 33-6—but did we actually learn anything?
Chet is Still Needed
They’ve done more than well without Chet Holmgren, who’s only played 10 games this season. But the idea that this team is “fine without him”? That narrative doesn’t hold up. Wednesday’s game against Cleveland highlighted exactly where Chet was missed. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined for 46 points on 17-of-24 shooting, exposing OKC’s need for a presence in the paint.
The good news? Holmgren was spotted putting up shots pregame, and he’s expected to return shortly after the All-Star break.
Isaiah Joe Found His Stroke
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Isaiah Joe struggled before this road trip, shooting just 24.6 percent from three over his last 13 games. But something clicked along the way. Joe found his rhythm, shooting 47.5 percent from deep on the trip, including a career-high eight threes against the Knicks.
For a player who thrives on confidence, this week-long stretch may have been exactly what Joe needed to get back on track.
Cason Wallace Looked Comfortable Offensively
Let’s face it—Cason Wallace always looks comfortable on the court. The second-year guard out of Hamilton Park has built a reputation as OKC’s most relentless defender, never taking a night off through 120 games.
Offense, though? That’s where he’s been more reserved, letting the game come to him. But this road trip was a different story. Wallace showed a new level of aggression, averaging 13.5 points per game on 62.2 percent shooting across the four games.
Looking Ahead
The Thunder get another crack at Cleveland, this time in front of their home crowd at Paycom Arena on Thursday night. From there, it’s a quick trip down I-35 to face a depleted Dallas Mavericks squad, with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving both sidelined due to injuries.
OKC is in control, but the season marches on, and there’s plenty more to learn about this team.
