How the NBA’s Most Dominant Team Still Shows Cracks (2025–26 Season, Dec. 20)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are not just winning, they’re obliterating the league.
At 25–3, the defending champions are on a historic pace, sporting one of the best net ratings in NBA history and projecting toward 70+ wins. Their offense hums, their defense suffocates, and their depth overwhelms. Yet even dynasties lose games.
What makes OKC fascinating isn’t that they’ve lost, it’s how.
All three losses have come by five points or fewer, each revealing subtle vulnerabilities that could matter in April and June. This is not panic. This is precision analysis.
❌ Loss #1
November 5, 2025 — at Portland
Thunder lose 121–119 (-2)
This was the first reminder that dominance can evaporate quickly in the NBA.
OKC stormed out to a 41–21 first quarter lead and built a 22-point advantage, controlling pace, tempo, and shot quality. Then everything unraveled.
Portland caught fire from deep (19-for-43 from three, 44.2%) and relentlessly attacked OKC’s transition defense. Deni Avdija nearly posted a triple-double (26 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST), while Jrue Holiday closed with ice-cold free throws.
Key Issues
- Late-game defensive breakdowns
- Paint and transition lapses
- Inability to slow three-point momentum
This wasn’t about talent. It was about closing discipline.
❌ Loss #2
December 13, 2025 — vs Spurs
NBA Cup Semifinal, Las Vegas — Thunder lose 111–109 (-2)
This was the most frustrating loss of the season.
OKC led by 16 points, entered on a 16-game win streak, and controlled large stretches, until turnovers flipped the game. The Thunder committed 15 turnovers, which San Antonio converted into 26 points.
Victor Wembanyama’s return changed everything. In just 21 minutes, he posted 22 points, 9 rebounds, and a staggering +21 impact, warping both paint and perimeter. His presence stalled ball movement and rushed decisions.
Key Issues
- Turnovers under pressure
- Shot alteration by elite length
- Missed clutch execution late
This wasn’t about effort. It was about poise against chaos.
❌ Loss #3
December 19, 2025 — at Minnesota
Thunder lose 112–107 (-5)
This loss came on the second night of a back-to-back, and it showed.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant (35 PTS, 7 AST), but support efficiency dipped. Minnesota overwhelmed OKC physically, dominating the glass (71–60 total rebounds) and feasting at the line with 47 free-throw attempts.
Anthony Edwards returned with force (26 PTS, 12 REB), and the Timberwolves punished OKC with 29 second-chance points.
Key Issues
- Rebounding deficit
- Physical fatigue
- Free-throw disparity
This was a reminder that size and force still matter.
🧠 What the Losses Tell Us
Despite different contexts, the themes repeat:
- All losses by ≤5 points
- Leads surrendered in each game
- Turnovers and second-chance points hurt
- Physical teams and elite rim deterrents create problems
- Two losses came on back-to-backs
In short: OKC doesn’t get outplayed, they get tested.
📈 The Bigger Picture: OKC by the Numbers
Team Stats (Per Game)
- Record: 25–3 (1st NBA)
- PPG: 123.0 (2nd)
- Opp PPG: 106.1 (1st)
- Net Rating: ~+17 (historic)
- ORtg: 121.3
- DRtg: Best in NBA
- FG%: 49.6%
- 3P%: 37.5%
This is dominance on both ends, rare, balanced, and sustainable.
🌟 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: MVP Standard
SGA is the league’s most reliable offensive engine.
Averages
- 32.4 PPG
- 6.4 APG
- 55.9% FG
- Elite true shooting
- Consistent defensive disruption
When OKC falters, it’s not because SGA disappears, it’s because the margins tighten around him.
🧱 Depth & Structure
Chet Holmgren continues to ascend as a two-way star. Isaiah Hartenstein’s rebounding and efficiency have transformed lineups. Jalen Williams remains the connective tissue. Add Caruso’s chaos, Wallace’s steals, Joe’s spacing, and Ajay Mitchell’s emergence, this is organizational depth, not rotation luck.
Even with injuries (Dort, Wiggins, Jaylin Williams), OKC hasn’t blinked.
⚖️ Positives vs Negatives
Positives
- Historic start
- Elite offense + defense
- MVP-level star
- No blowout losses
- Depth absorbs injuries
Negatives
- Physical rebounding matchups
- Turnovers in high-pressure moments
- Back-to-back fatigue
- NBA Cup exit stung
Nothing alarming. Everything instructive.
🔮 Final Word
The Thunder’s three losses don’t expose weakness, they confirm how high the standard is.
This is a team so dominant that its flaws only appear under playoff-level stress. Clean up the margins, manage health, and embrace the lessons.
OKC isn’t just defending a title.
They’re building a dynasty blueprint in real time.