After finishing the last two seasons as the top and sixth-ranked long-range shooting squad in the association, the OKC Thunder have found themselves in a bit of a slump mid-way through the 2025-26 campaign.
Over a 56-game stretch, Oklahoma City finds itself cashing in at a clip of 36.2 percent from beyond the arc, placing them at just 13 in the league. Since the start of January, their rank has fallen even farther down the totem pole to a middling 15.
These struggles have been apparent since opening night and have led many to question whether they'll be able to become the first repeat champion since the 2018 Warriors.
Fortunately, if there ever were a time for the Thunder to get right, it's directly following the All-Star break.
Upcoming post-All-Star break schedule ideal for struggling Thunder
Right out of the gates post-All-Star break, the Thunder find themselves playing host to the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers, the second and third-worst defensive teams when it comes to defending the deep ball this year.
The momentum they'll presumably get from such enviable matchups should help them find a rhythm leading into a four-game stretch against admittedly more ferocious defensive foes in the Raptors, Pistons, Nuggets, and Mavericks before lucking out yet again with a road tilt against the Chicago Bulls, who allow the highest opponent three-point percentage (37.6 percent).
On top of all this, perhaps most important of all is the fact that OKC is slated to finally get two of its premier marksmen back in the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell, who have both missed the last several games of action with abdominal strains.
Their reintroduction to the lineup with two back-to-back games against two of the worst perimeter-defending clubs should only boost the Thunder's productivity and overall success rate from deep.
Not to mention they'll finally be able to be paired alongside the recently surging Isaiah Joe and young sniper Jared McCain, the latter of whom was acquired by the Thunder at the trade deadline and, since his debut, has been shooting a scorched earth 42.9 percent from distance.
As the league enters its final two-month stretch of the regular season, Oklahoma City will be looking to get into a groove just in time for the playoffs. That means getting health and long-range shooting efficiency back on their side.
Right from the jump, it seems like the Thunder are in line to get both at the same time.