With a dominant 24-1 start, the Oklahoma City Thunder have placed themselves squarely in the historical conversation reserved for the greatest regular-season teams the NBA has ever seen. They have now matched the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best 25-game start in league history — and their underlying metrics suggest they might be even stronger than last year’s championship group.
The Thunder tied Golden State’s record Wednesday night by routing the Phoenix Suns, 138-89, in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, an emphatic statement win that extended their streak of double-digit victories and continued a statistical profile unlike anything the league has seen through 25 games. Golden State ultimately opened 24-0 before losing game 25 in the 2015-16 season, and went on to win 29 of their first 30 and 36 of their first 38 on their way to a 73-win campaign.
Oklahoma City is now on similar footing — and in some ways ahead of it.
A Historically Large Scoring Margin
The Thunder broke the NBA’s all-time point differential record last season at +12.9 per game. Through 25 games this season, they have shattered even that pace.
Their 49-point win over Phoenix pushed their scoring margin to +17.5 per game, the largest through 25 games in league history. Only the 2007-08 Boston Celtics come close at this checkpoint (+13.9). Oklahoma City already has 17 wins by double digits, tying the second-most ever through 25 games, and is now the first franchise to record at least 17 in back-to-back seasons.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have outscored its opponents by 437 points this season. That’s 90 points more than any team has ever outscored its opponents through the first 25 games of a season. OKC is in a totally different stratosphere now and historically so far.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) December 11, 2025
h/t @bball_ref pic.twitter.com/zwatE0pwHj
Dominance has become routine. Chris Youngblood’s 3-pointer with 5:25 remaining against Phoenix gave the Thunder a 50-point lead, the first such margin in an NBA game this season. They would extend it to 53. Last season’s regular-season high was 44.
These are not isolated outbursts — they are defining features of a team burying opponents as a matter of nightly operation.
How the Thunder Compare to History
Only three teams in NBA history have reached this level through 25 games:
– 2025-26 Thunder: 24-1
– 2015-16 Warriors: 24-1
– 1995-96 Bulls: 23-2
The Warriors’ 73 wins remain the single-season record. Chicago’s 72 wins in 1995-96 stood for two decades before Golden State broke it. Both teams showcased relentless consistency, early but faced natural pullbacks over the season’s second half.
Those historical trends are important. The 1996 Bulls began 41-3 but lost seven games in their final 41. The 2016 Warriors started 24-0, then finished the year 49-9. Even juggernauts slow — whether from attrition, pacing decisions, or prioritizing postseason health.
That context has kept some analysts cautious. The second half of a season typically delivers more losses, tougher road swings, and decisions from contenders to prioritize playoffs over records. Golden State is remembered as much for their NBA Finals collapse as their 73 wins, a cautionary tale Oklahoma City’s leadership will not ignore.
Why This Thunder Team Could Break the Record
The case for Oklahoma City is clear: few defending champions have returned looking deeper, healthier and more explosive.
Last season, the Thunder finished 68-14 despite Chet Holmgren missing 50 games and Jalen Williams appearing in only five. They still went 42-8 without Holmgren, a testament to roster infrastructure and coaching.
This season, Holmgren is healthy, Williams is expected to ramp up as the year progresses, and the rotation is stacked with scoring and defensive versatility. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, is again playing at that level while leading a top-three offense and the league’s best defense. Oklahoma City currently has seven players averaging 12+ points, and the bench — with contributors such as Ajay Mitchell — is deeper than last year’s championship unit.
Sportsbooks have responded accordingly. BetMGM lists the Thunder at +150 to win the title — the league’s best odds — and gives them a 58 percent implied probability of winning 70 or more games with an over/under of 69.5 wins. FanDuel is offering +360 on 74+ wins and +580 on 75+ wins.
The schedule also offers opportunity. Oklahoma City has just 13 back-to-backs, tied for the fewest in the league, and has already weathered injury absences with only one loss. They have upcoming multi-city road swings, including a challenging February slate (Minnesota, Denver, San Antonio, Lakers), but their depth makes them unusually resilient.
Why the Record Still May Not Fall
Even as the Thunder chase history, precedent warns against assuming anything. Teams this dominant often face diminishing returns later in the season — a combination of rest decisions, scouting adjustments, schedule compression and long-term thinking.
Just last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers started 15-0 and came up short. Other dominant teams besides that famous 2015-16 Warriors team to not win a title include the 1972-73 Boston Celtics (68-14) and two 67-15 teams: the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs and 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks. OKC knows plenty about those team’s plights and looks to avoid a similar season conclusion.
Oklahoma City played 23 playoff games last spring to win the championship, adding significant mileage. They may find themselves in a position to secure the No. 1 seed early, creating even more incentive to rest stars rather than pursue a record that history suggests does not correlate with postseason success.
This Thunder team is good enough to reach 70 wins — possibly even 73 or 74 — but their aspirations hinge on another trophy, not a regular-season milestone.
Still, through 25 games, the math is undeniable. If any team since Golden State is equipped to break the NBA’s most towering record, it is this one.
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