Next 10 Games to Test Thunder’s Playoff Desires

When basketball resumes after the All-Star break, the Oklahoma City Thunder are slated to play several games that could put their desire to make the playoffs to the test.

There is much to celebrate during the NBA’s All-Star weekend as a few members of the Thunder’s roster will be honored during the event.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to represent the organization in what will be his first All-Star Game appearance while Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey are set to compete in the Jordan Rising Stars mini-tournament. 

And Isaiah Joe should be competing in the NBA 3-Point Contest instead of Julius Randle, but that’s a story for another day.

New York Knicks All-Star Julius Randle is expected to replace Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons in the NBA 3-Point contest at All-Star weekend, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 16, 2023

But looking past All-Star festivities reveals quite an interesting and challenging schedule for the Thunder - one that should test the team’s preparedness, Mark Daigneault’s game-to-game rotations, and ultimately their collective desire to position themselves as a Playoff team.

Holding the 10th-best record in the West heading into the All-Star break, the Thunder's next 10 games will feature several matches against opponents that pit them against Playoff-hopeful or Playoff-bound franchises, many of which are just ahead or right behind in the win-loss column.

The first nine of the next 10 games also could also leave the Thunder quite tiresome since it features three back-to-back contests and a total of just five days of rest inbetween.

Right out of the break, Oklahoma City will have road games against the Utah Jazz, who sit just a half-game behind the Thunder, and the Phoenix Suns (4th-seed), which features a quartet of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, and the recently-acquired Kevin Durant in what will be their third nationally televised game of the season.

Kevin Durant has arrived in Phoenix 🔥

(via @Suns )
pic.twitter.com/xs6SFGpjx0

— Kicks (@kicks) February 11, 2023

The Thunder will then fly back to Oklahoma City to host the Sacramento Kings (3rd seed) twice at the Paycom Center, kicking off a six-game home stand. And after spoiling LeBron James’ breaking of the NBA’s career scoring record, the Thunder, again, will try to slam the door on the latest iteration of the Los Angeles Lakers the very next day.

The Lauri Markkanen-led Jazz will then fly back into Oklahoma City in early March for a three-day stay to play the Thunder twice in a pair of games that could drastically alter the Western Conference standings.

In their final match of their six-game home stretch, the Thunder will host the Golden State Warriors’ four-headed monster of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, and Draymond Green. The Warriors currently sit just a half-game ahead of the Thunder and have won both of their previous matches.

Finally, the Thunder will finish up this 10-game stretch with a pair of road games that feature another match against the Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans. Fortunately for the Thunder, they will be able to enjoy a couple of days of rest after their match in Phoenix before taking on the Pelicans, who currently sit just a full game ahead as the eighth seed.

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