Stiles Points: Three Game Skid For OKC Thunder Not Panic Worthy

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first three-game losing streak of the season on Friday, but it is not time to panic ahead of the NBA Playoffs.

Apr 5, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) dribbles the / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is a star-driven league. Especially in the closing moments, all eyes go to a team's top scorer. Without your go-to guys, you are fighting an uphill battle. That is the case for each of the 30 NBA franchises.

So as the Oklahoma City Thunder suffer their first three-game losing streak of the season falling to the Indiana Pacers on Friday after running out of gas, it is not time to hit the panic button on the Thunder's season.

In the last ten games, the Thunder sit at 5-5 dropping their overall record to 52-25 placing them third in the Western Conference and an entire game and a half out of the top spot and a game away from the second seed.

As the Thunder have a three-and-a-half-game lead with the tiebreaker over the streaky Los Angeles Clippers, it seems likely the team will nestle into the third seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Despite their recent slide, no one should be concerned about Oklahoma City just yet. Missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams tie the Bricktown boys' hands. Of course, the Thunder will not be able to rattle off wins without their rising duo.

The OKC Thunder are 1-5 without Gilgeous-Alexander this season and 5-5 when missing Williams. Every team across the association would be significantly worse without their top two scorers who are the straw that stirs the drink of the offense.

If this recent stretch of off days which will span at least eight days for Gilgeous-Alexander does not allow the duo to get back to the peak of their 2023-24 campaign then it is time to hit the panic button on the season. Until then, this is the status quo.

Stiles Points

• Josh Giddey continued to show his vast improvement against the Indiana Pacers, twice using his body to score over Myles Turner, chipping in a pair of and-ones while using physicality and patience in transition to nearly turn in a triple-double. Giddey racked up 14 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and an assist.
• Gordon Hayward showed off some improved offensive aggression before leaving the game early with left leg soreness.
• The NBA Fined the Philadelphia 76ers for their handling of Joel Embiid's injury status on Tuesday ahead of their game with the OKC Thunder.
• The OKC Blue Advanced to the Conference Finals of the G League Playoffs with a matchup. Olivier Sarr turned in another double-double as Adam Flagler posted 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. The Blue will play the Stockton Kings on Sunday, April 7 on ESPNU with tip-off slated for 8 PM CT.

Song of the Day: Win or Lose by Earth, Wind and Fire.

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