It’s all about beating the Thunder this NBA season.
And after what we witnessed on the heavyweight Christmas Day schedule, not less than 5 groups need to really feel higher about their possibilities.
Right here’s a take a look at Thursday’s 5 winners and what it’ll take – if it’s even potential – to be thought of a severe risk to dethrone the defending champions.
New York Knicks
They’ll have an opportunity to beat the Thunder if … The Jap Convention continues to supply a a lot much less taxing path to the Finals. We noticed the energetic Pacers, having benefitted from accidents to Damian Lillard, Darius Garland and Jayson Tatum alongside the way in which, almost take down the Thunder in final 12 months’s championship sequence. So why not the Knicks? They’d like to observe the Warriors’ path to an unbelievable title in 2015, which was constructed on the muse of a protection emphasised by Mark Jackson, then given an offensive implant when the coach was fired and changed by Steve Kerr.
Key participant: Jordan Clarkson. Thursday’s winners averaged 126 factors. Let’s face it: Good offense is thrashing good protection this season, simply because the NBA rules-tinkerers have wished. So why wouldn’t that be the case within the playoffs as nicely? New coach Mike Brown is given credit score for supercharging the New York offense this season. He may be the skipper, however Clarkson is driving the speedboat. The Knicks are 11-2 when he’s scored 11 or extra factors this season. And when he’s scored 25, like he did Thursday towards the Cavaliers? 1-0. And he is simply warming up.
San Antonio Spurs
Dec 23, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs ahead Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots whereas being fouled by Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Kenrich Williams (34) throughout the first half at Frost Financial institution Heart. Necessary Credit score: Scott Wachter-Imagn Photos They’ll have an opportunity to beat the Thunder if … Based mostly on what we’ve shockingly witnessed this week, maybe a greater supposition would take into account the Thunder’s possibilities of beating the Spurs. A lot for all of the blather about dynasties and record-setting win totals.
Rapidly, they’re speaking LOSING STREAK within the heartland. All as a result of the basketball world now realizes – in the event that they didn’t earlier than – that Gregg Popovich is the premier roster-builder. Sure, even higher than previous pal Sam Presti. The Thunder might need gotten stunned Tuesday in San Antonio, however they acquired embarrassed Thursday in Oklahoma. The Spurs, brilliantly pieced collectively by Pop and now coached by his hand-picked alternative, are for actual.
Key participant: De’Aaron Fox. The Spurs match up nicely with the Thunder. Stephon Fort is as succesful as anybody of slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and with Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs will all the time have one of the best massive man on the courtroom. That ought to preserve San Antonio in most video games, setting the stage for Fox, one of many clutchest performers right this moment’s recreation has to supply. The truth that he hasn’t spent 47 minutes chasing round SGA would assist preserve these pictures falling, even on a completely unfamiliar middle stage match for kings, not Kings.
Golden State Warriors
Dec 22, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates a 3 level basket towards the Orlando Magic within the fourth quarter at Chase Heart. Necessary Credit score: Eakin Howard-Imagn Photos They’ll have an opportunity to beat the Thunder if … OK, it ain’t going to occur. The NBA has extra athletes lately than at any time of their historical past. And the Warriors have the fewest because the Pittsburgh Ironmen trotted out 5 plumbers within the Forties.
Wanting including Giannis, Golden State gained’t be squeezing one other banner into the rafters this season. However buying and selling Jonathan Kuminga for a defensive-minded tag-team associate for De’Anthony Melton to suffocate SGA would assist. The query is: Which rebuilding crew would surrender a Jrue Vacation, Matisse Thybulle, Grayson Allen or – dare we are saying? – Dillon Brooks for an opportunity to gentle a fireplace underneath Kuminga?
Key participant: Al Horford. The veteran admitted this week he’s been embarrassingly unhealthy this season. Possibly that’s a great factor. If it conjures up him to rattle off 3-pointers like he did Thursday and guard the massive guys Draymond Inexperienced now not desires to take care of, the Warriors will be capable of put the league’s most feared foursome of winners on the ground on the finish of shut video games. And people 17 video games Horford has already missed? The Warriors would gladly commerce in 17 extra to have Christmas Al present up once more proper round St. Patrick’s Day.
Houston Rockets
Dec 20, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets ahead Kevin Durant (7) throughout the first half towards the Denver Nuggets at Ball Area. Necessary Credit score: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Photos They’ll have an opportunity to beat the Thunder if … The calendar flips to 2027 subsequent week as a substitute of 2026. As a result of as modern, versatile and entertaining because the Rockets are, they’re nonetheless a 12 months away from determining what’s prone to proceed to work and what’s been profitable solely as a result of opponents aren’t accustomed to what they’re seeing. Nonetheless, Houston’s outsized lineup is a power to be reckoned with. And whereas the Thunder can go Twin Towers with one of the best of them, the Rockets can go Quad Khalifa and make you disappear. Like Luka and LeBron did Thursday.
Key participant: Kevin Durant. Nicely, duh. OK, however not for the explanations you may assume. At age 37, Durant must be guarding slower energy forwards and taking pictures over undersized small forwards. As an alternative, he’s caught with coping with guys like Luka as a result of the Rockets virtually all the time have two greater guys on the courtroom, and he’s tasked with enjoying level guard on the different finish as a result of, nicely, Houston actually doesn’t have any of these. Can he stick with it for 82 video games? In all probability not. However would you belief him on the massive stage to deal with each vital assignments? I feel all of us noticed the reply to that.
Denver Nuggets
Dec 25, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic (15) reacts towards the Minnesota Timberwolves throughout the first half at Ball Area. Necessary Credit score: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Photos They’ll have an opportunity to beat the Thunder if … The refs get the memo.
I don’t know what Anthony Edwards mentioned to get ejected from what was the showcase’s fundamental occasion, however I’m guessing it was one thing alongside the strains of: “They’re chanting ‘MVP! MVP!’ for Jokic, however I’m the man who put up 40 enjoying 5-on-8.” Little question, the NBA would like to see a Thunder-Nuggets rematch within the playoffs, however that most likely would take a Denver win over San Antonio within the Western semifinals. Having given it a dry run Thursday, Adam Silver is fine-tuning his directions to Scott Foster as we converse.
Key participant: Tim Hardaway Jr. You have been anticipating another person? Clearly, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray must come up large for the Nuggets to beat the Spurs, not to mention the Thunder. However just like the Knicks, the headliners are going to want assist in some unspecified time in the future, and Denver’s depth is best than ever. With Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson out, it is stunning Denver can beat anyone. However these have been the previous Nuggets.
This new Hardaway-led band of backups is getting a possibility to introduce themselves to the massive boys, and are doing so whereas demonstrating they gained’t soften underneath the intense lights alongside their famous person mates. That have can solely assist down the road.
