The NBA championship race is heating up

The reigning champion or the Cinderella with three rings? The familiar or the new? Will the West rule again or will the East’s power prevail? In short, who will dominate the NBA in 2025–26 – the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Detroit Pistons? That is the big question keeping league fans awake once the Rubicon of midseason has been crossed.

A question that seemed unthinkable when OKC were cruising at a historic winning pace, opening with a 24–1 record no one could slow down, while the Pistons were rising on the other side of the country, fishing in the turbulent waters of the East. At that same point, Detroit stood at 20–5. Good? Yes. But could they really chase down the Thunder like that? It seemed impossible.

Everything changed, however, after the NBA Cup semifinals, when the San Antonio Spurs knocked off Oklahoma. That loss marked the first day of a different season. From that moment on, the aura of invincibility surrounding the reigning champions disappeared. It was not a sudden collapse, but a steady decline that, a month and a half and 22 games later, has left them with 10 losses and a 13–9 run in that span (including the stumble against the Texans).

The latest defeat came early this morning at home against the Toronto Raptors, a 103–101 loss that dropped OKC to 37–10 overall. That is just one loss fewer than the Pistons, who, after Detroit’s 139–116 win over the Sacramento Kings, now sit at 33–11. The Michigan team has played three fewer games, but in winning percentage they are only three points behind the West leaders – 78.7% to 75%.

Oklahoma’s slip ends the dream of matching the 73–9 record set by the Golden State Warriors. There is always someone who believes that legendary feat can be equaled or surpassed, and it always ends the same way: flat on the canvas. Simply life. Simply a reminder that setting that record required a titanic combination of basketball excellence, intelligence and psychological strength.

The Thunder fell in the closing stretch of a tightly contested game. With two minutes remaining, Oklahoma held a slim 97–95 lead, hardly a safe margin against a confident opponent. Immanuel Quickley drilled back-to-back three-pointers to flip the score to 101–97 before Chet Holmgren cut it to 101–99. The center then had a chance to put his team ahead, but Scottie Barnes blocked his shot, sealing a second straight loss for the Thunder, who had not dropped both games of a back-to-back since November 2023.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points but went quiet in the fourth quarter, scoring just three. Still, it marked his 117th consecutive game with 20 or more points – the second-longest such streak in NBA history.

Detroit, for their part, did not allow any surprises and tied up Sacramento after halftime. The Pistons built a 25-point lead, reaching 139–114, after hovering around a 20-point cushion from the third quarter on, a period in which the Kings were clearly outmatched. Cade Cunningham was outstanding, posting 29 points, five rebounds and 11 assists.

Tonight’s other NBA scores:

Minnesota Timberwolves 85 - Golden State Warriors 111

San Antonio Spurs 95 - New Orleans Pelicans 104

Phoenix Suns 102 - Miami Heat 111

Los Angeles Clippers 126 - Brooklyn Nets 89

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.