Oklahoma City has opened its title defense by storming to a 24 wins and 1 loss record, tying the 2015 to 2016 Golden State Warriors for the best 25 game start in league history.

A 138 to 89 demolition of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Cup quarterfinals delivered a franchise record 16th straight victory and pushed this young core firmly into the history books.​

The Thunder were never threatened in the blowout, leading wire to wire and stretching the margin to more than 50 points as the Suns, missing Devin Booker, simply could not keep pace with the defending champions. The win also sent Oklahoma City back to Las Vegas for a second consecutive NBA Cup semifinal, underlining how regularly this group now plays on the league’s biggest in season stages.​

Shai’s Steady Stardom And Depth

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again set the tone, pouring in 28 points in just 27 minutes while adding playmaking and defensive production in a game that was effectively over by halftime.

His scoring outburst extended an extraordinary run of consecutive 20 point games and has him firmly in the conversation for another Most Valuable Player caliber season.​

Around him, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren continue to look like ideal co stars, combining efficient scoring with versatile defense in limited minutes against Phoenix.

Even with Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Joe unavailable, Oklahoma City’s rotation barely skipped a beat, underscoring the roster depth and balance that powered 68 regular season wins and a championship last season.​

Chasing History In A New Era

The Warriors turned their 24 and 0 launch in 2015 to 2016 into a 73 and 9 masterpiece that reset expectations for what a modern superteam could accomplish. Oklahoma City’s path is different, but the bar they have just matched places this group alongside one of the most celebrated regular season juggernauts the NBA has seen.​

What makes this surge even more ominous for the rest of the league is how sustainable it looks, with the Thunder pairing a top tier defense and a league leading net rating with the core continuity of a champion still on the rise.

The 24 and 1 record secures their place in the record books but also reframes the season ahead as a chase to see just how far this young powerhouse can push the limits of NBA history.