For the majority of this year's campaign, the path to returning to the NBA Finals has looked like a walk in the park for the OKC Thunder, and it doesn't appear to be getting any more difficult with how the Western Conference Semifinals look to be shaping up.
But beyond that, an inevitable date with the San Antonio Spurs is looking more menacing by the day.
Point guard and veteran De'Aaron Fox recently reminded fans of why he was dubbed "The Closer" during his time with Sacramento.
In Games 4 and 5 of the Spurs' first-round matchup with the Trail Blazers, Fox scored a combined 24 points in the fourth quarters on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor and 3-of-5 shooting from three-point land.
San Antonio was plus-20 in the combined 20 minutes he was on the court.
Spurs' blast from the past is unknown territory for Thunder
The 2023 Clutch Player of the Year has taken a back seat in the latter half of games since joining the Spurs, particularly in their regular-season series against Oklahoma City.
Fox registered a mere 13 fourth-quarter points combined in five games against the defending champs, all of which he saw at least seven minutes on the floor.
But with Fox drawing upon his former late-game prowess, the Thunder could have even more on their hands during an inevitable meetup in the Western Conference Finals.
His resurgence might even extend beyond just the final minutes of games.
The former King was a near-nonfactor on numerous occasions against OKC, scoring 15 or fewer points in three games.
Players like Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Keldon Johnson all shouldered the offensive load in those matchups, which helped guide the Spurs to a commanding 5-1 season series win over the defending champs.
Now, the point guard has been San Antonio's leading scorer each of the past two games, and they were plus-47 in the time he was on the court.
The projected Conference Finals matchup between the two powerhouses is highly anticipated. The veteran's recent resurgence arguably provides even more substance for those who make the claim that the youthful Spurs are capable of toppling the defending champs when it matters most.
Obviously, both teams have work to do to reach this stage of the playoffs.
The Thunder will likely face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Semifinals, while the Spurs will face the winner of the ongoing series between the Nuggets and Timberwolves.
De'Aaron Fox's elevated level of performance will be something to watch as the postseason continues. If he sustains such proficiency alongside Wemby and other fellow stars, the Thunder could have trouble on their hands.
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