With their 53-12 record and 11-win edge over the second-seeded Nuggets, the OKC Thunder are coasting to their second consecutive top-seeded finish in the Western Conference standings.
Because of this, home-court advantage throughout the postseason is well within their sights.
However, before they can tap into such a playoff luxury, Oklahoma City still has 17 games left on the regular season docket that they need to get through.
While not much is expected to change throughout or be negatively impacted by this remaining stretch run of the campaign, looking ahead at these next five weeks on the schedule, it's quite apparent that the Thunder are bound to endure up and down levels of difficulty along the way, with five stretches, in particular, standing out as headliners in both areas.
Hard Thunder stretches
March 12 - March 16
* @ Boston Celtics (March 12)
* @ Detroit Pistons (March 15)
* @ Milwaukee Bucks (March 16)
Back-to-backs are always a pain, but taking part in two in less than a week is absolutely harrowing.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what the Thunder are in line to deal with.
After wrapping up the second night of their two-day face-off against the Nuggets this Monday, they are only days away from doing it again with a matchup in Detroit against the surging Pistons and then in Milwaukee the following night versus the now-stabilized Bucks.
Before this, however, they'll have to visit Boston for a primetime matchup against the reigning champion Celtics this coming Wednesday.
By the end of this road trip, OKC will have seen three contests against 40-plus win opponents and five-straight teams with over 35 wins since March 9.
March 23 - March 29
* @ LA Clippers (March 23)
* @ Sacramento Kings (March 25)
* vs. Memphis Grizzlies (March 27)
* vs. Indiana Pacers (March 29)
Over a six-day stretch, the Thunder will find themselves squaring off against four opponents in three separate cities.
Not only is the constant travel accompanied by the one day of rest between each game during this period guaranteed to be challenging on its own, but with each of the teams they'll be playing sporting winning records and being legitimately in the running for playoff berths, this string of games is bound to be a major test of their fortitude as a collective.
Fortunately, Oklahoma City has faced each of these ball clubs at least once thus far this season and is undefeated (9-0) in such matchups.
Nevertheless, a successful past doesn't guarantee anything, especially when considering just how talented these teams have proven to be throughout the year.
April 4 - April 9
* @ Houston Rockets (April 4)
* vs. Los Angeles Lakers (April 6)
* vs. Los Angeles Lakers (April 8)
* @ Phoenix Suns (April 9)
Similar to the previously listed stretches, all of Oklahoma City's opponents during this span are well in the running for a playoff berth.
Unlike the others, however, three of these four teams reside in the top five within the Western Conference standings, with both LeBron James's Lakers and Alpern Sengun's Rockets regularly changing places as the number two seed.
Add this to the fact that they'll be ending things off with a back-to-back that sees them ship out from Oklahoma to Arizona, and it's evident that the Thunder are bound to have their work cut out for them.
Easy Thunder stretches
March 19 - March 21
* vs. Philadelphia 76ers (March 19)
* vs. Charlotte Hornets (March 21)
Directly following their current string of games that has seen them endure back-to-back matchups against the dominating Denver Nuggets and then bouts against the Boston Celtics, rising Detroit Pistons, and stacked Milwaukee Bucks, the Thunder get much-needed breaks from both play and high-level challengers.
After the second night of their second back-to-back in seven days, OKC will have two well-deserved nights of rest before tipping off against the injury-plagued Philadelphia 76ers in front of a packed Paycom Center on March 19.
Two days later, they'll then play host to the cellar dweller Charlotte Hornets who, at 15-48, are all but certain to be looking to better their odds of securing a top-five draft pick rather than partaking in a close contest against the title-hopeful Thunder.
April 11 - April 13
* @ Utah Jazz (April 11)
* @ New Orleans Pelicans (April 13)
As noted already, the Thunder are well on their way toward their second-straight playoff berth in 2024-25 and, frankly, have their sights set on one thing -- an NBA Championship.
Considering how bruised and battered this ball club has proven to be throughout the season, any rest or easing up in their schedule before the postseason kicks off will be greatly appreciated.
Fortunately, it appears they may have exactly this waiting for them to close out the regular season, as both the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans are bound for the draft lottery and, like the Hornets, are likely more invested in tanking for a higher chance of landing a top pick this June than anything else.
Expect these final two games of the regular season to present as much of a challenge to Oklahoma City as a mere preseason outing.