Thunder’s Historic Streak Continues; Warriors’ Valiant Fight
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their dominant run in the 2025-26 NBA season, extending their league-best record to an astounding 21-1 with a hard-fought 124-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The defending champions, now on a remarkable 13-game winning streak, faced a resilient Warriors squad that, despite being severely shorthanded, pushed them to their limits at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Game Recap: Warriors’ Spirited Comeback Falls Short
The Thunder initially appeared to be cruising, finishing the first half on a 9-0 run to take a commanding 63-44 lead at intermission. However, the Golden State Warriors, fueled by a spirited effort from their depth players, mounted a furious comeback in the third quarter. Led by Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, and Pat Spencer, the Warriors unleashed a 35-14 run, cutting the Thunder’s lead to a mere 83-82. Spencer continued to impress in the fourth quarter, bringing the lead down to just one point. Yet, the Thunder’s championship pedigree shone through in the clutch, with Isaiah Joe and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander burying crucial 3-pointers to extend the lead back to seven and ultimately secure the 124-112 win.
- OKC Thunder Key Performers:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Led all scorers with 38 points.
- Jalen Williams: Contributed 22 points in his return from wrist surgery.
- Chet Holmgren: Anchored the frontcourt.
- Golden State Warriors Key Performers:
- Pat Spencer: Scored 17 points.
- Brandin Podziemski: Added 17 points.
- Seth Curry: Made a sensational debut with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 18 minutes, tying the game at 95 in the fourth quarter with a three-pointer.
Thunder’s Historic Pace: Chasing Greatness
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 21-1 start puts them in rarefied air, drawing comparisons to some of the greatest regular-season teams in NBA history, including Michael Jordan’s 72-10 Chicago Bulls (1995-96) and the 73-9 Golden State Warriors (2015-16). Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who was part of both those historic teams, acknowledged the Thunder’s current dominance, attributing it to a “team mindset of zero agendas” and “high IQ players.” The Thunder’s relentless defense, depth, and the consistent brilliance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is following up his MVP season with another stellar campaign, are key factors in their success. Jalen Williams’ return from wrist surgery, after missing the first 19 games, further bolsters an already formidable roster.
Warriors’ Resilience Amidst Injury Woes
The Warriors’ valiant effort was particularly noteworthy given their extensive injury report. They played without superstar Stephen Curry (left quadriceps contusion), who missed his second consecutive game after sustaining the injury on November 26 against the Houston Rockets. Veteran big man Al Horford (right sciatic nerve) was also sidelined. Adding to their woes, Jimmy Butler, listed as questionable with a left gluteal contusion, played only 15 minutes before being lost to injury at halftime. Draymond Green, despite being probable with a right mid-foot injury, played through it. The team’s depth, including the impressive debut of Seth Curry, who signed with the team on Monday after being waived for cap space reasons at the start of the season, provided a much-needed spark. Curry’s ability to shoot off the catch and his movement added a new dimension to the Warriors’ offense.
Previous Encounter: Thunder’s Dominant November Victory
This latest matchup marked the second time these two Western Conference rivals have met this season. In their first encounter on November 11, 2025, the Thunder delivered a resounding 107-72 victory over the Warriors at Paycom Center. That game also saw Stephen Curry absent due to illness, highlighting his critical importance to Golden State’s offensive scheme. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 28 points and 12 assists in that dominant performance, as reported by digitaltrendstoday.com.
Beyond the Thunder-Warriors Rivalry
The NBA season continues to deliver thrilling action across the league. Earlier in November, the defending champion Thunder, then 11-1, hosted the Los Angeles Lakers (8-3) in a nationally televised game. The Lakers, playing without LeBron James (sciatica), were led by Luka Dončić, who was averaging a staggering 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. Other notable performances included the Detroit Pistons’ surprising 9-2 start, Miami Heat’s Norman Powell making an All-Star push, and rookie sensations like Cooper Flagg (the 2025 No. 1 pick) impressing with record-breaking scoring and defensive plays, as detailed by digitaltrendstoday.com.
Looking Ahead
The Thunder will continue their pursuit of history, with a favorable schedule ahead before facing tougher opponents like the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers later in the season. Meanwhile, the Warriors (11-11) will embark on a three-game road trip, starting with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, as they aim to regain cohesion and integrate their stars back into the lineup.
