Wednesday night, the OKC Thunder hosted the Detroit Pistons to close out a four-game homestand, wrapping up with a 119-103 victory and, perhaps more impressive, their 11th consecutive win.
This game marked the conclusion of Oklahoma City's season against the Eastern Conference, of which they finished 29-1, the best record against an opposing conference in league history.
Given that the win was by a double-digit margin, it also means the ball club tied the record for most wins by double-digit points in NBA history (50).
Due to injuries and suspension, Detroit was competing without first-time All-Star Cade Cunningham, along with Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and Ron Holland II during the outing.
Rubbing salt into the wound, Tobias Harris would suffer a right Achilles tendinopathy in the third quarter, ruling him out for the remainder of the game.
Despite the injuries, Detroit didn't give up without a fight, cutting the deficit to just five points in the fourth quarter.
In the end, however, the Thunder proved to be too much to handle for the up-and-coming Pistons.
Though the win may not have come in the prettiest of fashions, OKC earned it nonetheless, and there were several players (both good and bad) who had major impacts on the night's overall flow.
Stud: Chet Holmgren
After a two-game stretch against Chicago and Memphis that saw the 7-footer shoot a combined 4-for-16 from the field, Chet Holmgren's offense was acknowledged as lackluster. In regards to those games, Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault claimed it was "critical" for the big man to find his offensive rhythm at this point in the season.
Holmgren responded in an effective fashion, dropping 22 points and snagging 11 rebounds in 32:55 minutes of action, his highest point and rebound totals since March 9.
While he shot 0-for-5 from three, he went 6-for-7 from the charity stripe and shot 7-for-14 from the field, making for an overall efficient night.
On the defensive side of the ball, Holmgren racked up 2 steals and 5 blocks, reminding the league of the defensive force that he is. That marks his ninth game with three or more blocks since his Feb. 7 return.
Stud: Cason Wallace
Cason Wallace's development into a source of offensive creation in recent weeks, rather than relying on others, was showcased once again Wednesday night.
In his 42nd start of the season, the sophomore guard finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 60.0 percent from the floor.
His effective playmaking on the night resulted in a combined 12 assists over his last two games, the first time Wallace has done so in his young career.
The point guard struggled to put the ball on the floor and create in last season's playoff matchup against the Mavericks, so seeing growth in this department is a major luxury, especially this late in the season.
Wallace also earned himself 3 steals on the night, but that's just regular news for the potential All-Defensive team member.
Stud: Jalen Williams
The first-year All-Star notched 23 points against Detroit in a plethora of ways, picking apart the Pistons defense. He shot six free throws on the night, and while he only made three, the higher volume is a positive sign in terms of his ability to get to the rim.
Williams' impressive point total on Wednesday means he's scored at least 18 points on at least 50.0 percent shooting from the floor in each of his four games since returning from his hip injury. It's no secret that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is this team's Batman, but which Thunder player will step up as his Robin?
With his play of late, it seems Williams is ready to answer the call!
Dud: Isaiah Hartenstein
The 7-footer played just 23:19 minutes on the night while coming off the bench, as coach Mark Daigneault opted to roll with a smaller starting unit by giving Cason Wallace the starting nod.
In those minutes, Hartenstein amassed 5 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, but that doesn't tell the whole story.
The big man was struggling in the foul department throughout the game, which severely limited his minutes. He had a hard time defending the rim, allowing backup big Paul Reed to have his way with 9 points and 9 rebounds, the first time the youngster has reached those numbers since Jan. 19.
Hartenstein finished with a +3 in the plus-minus department despite the team's 16-point victory and was in the negatives until the last few buckets of "garbage time." He struggled against Detroit earlier in the season, finishing with a -1 in the March 15 contest.
Bad Blood?
As the score sat at 117-103 with 28 seconds left on the clock, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder tried to score to cement a victory.
Former Thunder guard Dennis Schroder took offense to this and fouled the MVP hopeful, perhaps a bit harder than necessary. Both players continued to talk about the incident until well after the buzzer sounded, leaving attending fans and viewers puzzled.
Very animated conversation between Shai and Dennis Schroder pic.twitter.com/0L9crrNQ6C
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) April 3, 2025
Following the contest, Daigneault was quick to play peacemaker in his media session, clearing the air on the incident by saying:
“We love Dennis and have nothing but respect for him and Detroit. He took issue with us trying to score on the last possession. We meant no disrespect. We love him.”