The Oklahoma City Thunder are marching confidently toward a historic defense of the 2024-25 NBA championship. Tasked with proving their rise to prominence was anything but a flash in the pan, Oklahoma City has somehow achieved a new level of dominance in 2025-26.
With a second consecutive title in their sights, the Thunder have made progress toward achieving a goal even they may not have expected to have a shot at reaching: An NBA-record 74 wins.
Oklahoma City flirted with history in 2024-25 when it went 68-14 during a stunningly brilliant regular season. It fell just two wins shy of becoming the third team in NBA history to win at least 70 games in a single season and became the seventh to reach 68.
For as difficult as it may be to imagine a team building upon a 68-win season, the Thunder have managed to make early progress toward doing so—against all odds.
Oklahoma City was dealt a rather devastating blow when Jalen Williams underwent wrist surgeries in July and October. As a result of the procedures, the All-NBA and All-Defense honoree was forced to miss the Thunder's first 19 games.
Oklahoma City not only overcame Williams' absence, but set the pace for a season of unrivaled proportions by going 18-1 in his absence—and it's difficult to imagine too many more losses in their future.
Thunder need to go 51-9 the rest of the way to reach 74 wins
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If the Thunder maintain their current pace, they'll finish the 2025-26 season with a rounded-down projected record of 78-4. Unrealistic as that may be, it's a testament to how brilliantly they've played [behind the efforts of](https://thunderousintentions.com/okc-thunder-steve-nash-says-shai-gilgeous-alexander-greatest-skill) reigning MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander is far from alone in his brilliance, however, as the Thunder have benefited from the internal development of the players who comprise their depth chart.
Ajay Mitchell is an early favorite for Most Improved Player and Chet Holmgren is making clear progress as a scorer. Furthermore, the likes of Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins continue to thrive and beg the question of how they remain two of the most underrated players in the NBA.
Compounded by the disruptive defensive presence of players such as Alex Caruso, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Cason Wallace, the 2025-26 Thunder are setting an all-time pace.
Thunder's full schedule and updated records
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_Note: The Thunder's record and results will be updated as the 2025-26 NBA regular season progresses._
**Opponent**
**Result**
**Updated Record**
vs. Houston Rockets
125-124 OT, W
1-0
at Indiana Pacers
141-135 2OT, W
2-0
at Atlanta Hawks
107-100, W
3-0
at Dallas Mavericks
110-94, W
4-0
vs. Sacramento Kings
107-101, W
5-0
vs. Washington Wizards
127-108, W
6-0
vs. New Orleans Pelicans
137-106, W
7-0
at LA Clippers
126-107, W
8-0
at Portland Trail Blazers
121-119, L
8-1
at Sacramento Kings
132-101, W
9-1
at Memphis Grizzlies
114-100, W
10-1
vs. Golden State Warriors
126-102, W
11-1
vs. Los Angeles Lakers
121-92, W
12-1
at Charlotte Hornets
109-96, W
13-1
at New Orleans Pelicans
126-109, W
14-1
vs. Sacramento Kings
113-99, W
15-1
at Utah Jazz
144-112, W
16-1
vs. Portland Trail Blazers
122-95, W
17-1
vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
113-105, W
18-1
vs. Phoenix Suns
123-119, W
19-1
at Portland Trail Blazers
123-115, W
20-1
at Golden State Warriors
124-112, W
21-1
vs. Dallas Mavericks
132-111, W
22-1
at Utah Jazz
131-101, W
23-1
vs. Phoenix Suns
TBD, Dec. 10
TBD
vs. LA Clippers
TBD, Dec. 17
TBD
at Minnesota Timberwolves
TBD, Dec. 19
TBD
vs. Memphis Grizzlies
TBD, Dec. 22
TBD
at San Antonio Spurs
TBD, Dec. 23
TBD
vs. San Antonio Spurs
TBD, Dec. 25
TBD
vs. Philadelphia 76ers
TBD, Dec. 28
TBD
vs. Atlanta Hawks
TBD, Dec. 29
TBD
vs. Portland Trail Blazers
TBD, Dec. 31
TBD
at Golden State Warriors
TBD, Jan. 2
TBD
at Phoenix Suns
TBD, Jan. 4
TBD
vs. Charlotte Hornets
TBD, Jan. 5
TBD
vs. Utah Jazz
TBD, Jan. 7
TBD
at Memphis Grizzlies
TBD, Jan. 9
TBD
vs. Miami Heat
TBD, Jan. 11
TBD
vs. San Antonio Spurs
TBD, Jan. 13
TBD
at Houston Rockets
TBD, Jan. 15
TBD
at Miami Heat
TBD, Jan. 17
TBD
at Cleveland Cavaliers
TBD, Jan. 19
TBD
at Milwaukee Bucks
TBD, Jan. 21
TBD
vs. Indiana Pacers
TBD, Jan. 23
TBD
vs. Toronto Raptors
TBD, Jan. 25
TBD
vs. New Orleans Pelicans
TBD, Jan. 27
TBD
at Minnesota Timberwolves
TBD, Jan. 29
TBD
at Denver Nuggets
TBD, Feb. 1
TBD
vs. Orlando Magic
TBD, Feb. 3
TBD
at San Antonio Spurs
TBD, Feb. 4
TBD
vs. Houston Rockets
TBD, Feb. 7
TBD
at Los Angeles Lakers
TBD, Feb. 9
TBD
at Phoenix Suns
TBD, Feb. 11
TBD
vs. Milwaukee Bucks
TBD, Feb. 12
TBD
vs. Brooklyn Nets
TBD, Feb. 20
TBD
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
TBD, Feb. 22
TBD
at Toronto Raptors
TBD, Feb. 24
TBD
at Detroit Pistons
TBD, Feb. 25
TBD
vs. Denver Nuggets
TBD, Feb. 27
TBD
at Dallas Mavericks
TBD, Mar. 1
TBD
at Chicago Bulls
TBD, Mar. 3
TBD
at New York Knicks
TBD, Mar. 4
TBD
vs. Golden State Warriors
TBD, Mar. 7
TBD
vs. Denver Nuggets
TBD, Mar. 9
TBD
vs. Boston Celtics
TBD, Mar. 12
TBD
vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
TBD, Mar. 15
TBD
at Orlando Magic
TBD, Mar. 17
TBD
at Brooklyn Nets
TBD, Mar. 18
TBD
at Washington Wizards
TBD, Mar. 21
TBD
at Philadelphia 76ers
TBD, Mar. 23
TBD
at Boston Celtics
TBD, Mar. 25
TBD
vs. Chicago Bulls
TBD, Mar. 27
TBD
vs, New York Knicks
TBD, Mar. 29
TBD
vs. Detroit Pistons
TBD, Mar. 30
TBD
vs. Los Angeles Lakers
TBD, Apr. 2
TBD
vs. Utah Jazz
TBD, Apr. 5
TBD
at Los Angeles Lakers
TBD, Apr. 7
TBD
at LA Clippers
TBD, Apr. 8
TBD
at Denver Nuggets
TBD, Apr. 10
TBD
vs. Phoenix Suns
TBD, Apr. 12
TBD
Not only have the Thunder jumped out to an absurdly dominant start to the season, but their only loss was by just two points. Furthermore, they've started to blow opponents out with regularity as the Association takes note of just how dominant the team is regardless of if they're playing at 100 percent.
The question, of course, is whether or not the Thunder can complete the process of reaching 74 wins in 2025-26—and they're well on their way to doing so.
10 biggest upcoming threats to Thunder's pursuit of 74 wins
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In order to complete the process of reaching a record-setting 74 wins, the Thunder will need to overcome a surplus of challenges. That includes a schedule that's certain to pose threats to their pursuit of history.
The next 10 games will consistently be updated below to provide insight into what hurdles await the Thunder and how they may impact their chase of 74 wins.
**Date**
**Opponent**
Friday, Dec. 19
at Minnesota Timberwolves
Tuesday, Dec. 23
at San Antonio Spurs
Thursday, Dec. 25
vs. San Antonio Spurs
Sunday, Dec. 28
vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, Dec. 29
vs. Atlanta Hawks
Friday, Jan. 2
at Golden State Warriors
Thursday, Jan. 15
at Houston Rockets
Monday, Jan. 19
at Cleveland Cavaliers
Thursday, Jan. 29
at Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday, Feb. 1
at Denver Nuggets
Trap games are inevitable and must be accounted for, but Oklahoma City's 10 biggest threats through Feb. 1 are a cast of listed contenders and a pair of quality foes in a back-to-back setting.
What was the 73-win Warriors' record at this point in the season?
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In order to properly contextualize what the Thunder are in the midst of achieving, a direct comparison to the 73-win Warriors is essential. Not all teams [travel the same path to glory](https://thunderousintentions.com/okc-thunder-espn-pundit-significantly-raises-bar-hot-topic-talking-point), of course, but Golden State went 73-9 by dominating in a surprisingly similar manner.
The key difference between the Thunder and Warriors is that the latter dominant force didn't lose its first game until its 25th outing on Dec. 12.
**Games Played**
**Date**
**Record**
1
Oct. 27. 2015
1-0
2
Oct. 30, 2015
2-0
3
Oct. 31, 2015
3-0
4
Nov. 2, 2015
4-0
5
Nov. 4, 2015
5-0
6
Nov. 6, 2015
6-0
7
Nov. 7, 2015
7-0
8
Nov. 9, 2015
8-0
9
Nov. 11, 2015
9-0
10
Nov. 12, 2015
10-0
11
Nov. 14, 2015
11-0
12
Nov. 17, 2015
12-0
13
Nov. 19, 2015
13-0
14
Nov. 20, 2015
14-0
15
Nov. 22, 2015
15-0
16
Nov. 24, 2015
16-0
17
Nov. 27, 2015
17-0
18
Nov. 28, 2015
18-0
19
Nov. 30, 2015
19-0
20
Dec. 2, 2015
20-0
21
Dec. 5, 2015
21-0
22
Dec. 6, 2015
22-0
23
Dec. 8, 2015
23-0
24
Dec. 11, 2015
24-0
25
Dec. 12, 2015
24-1
A loss behind the pace, a 23-1 Thunder team somehow has a task ahead of it that can be described as an uphill battle.
The top five best single-season win-loss records in NBA history
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As the Thunder pursue a record 74 wins, it's important to understand just how few teams have even come close to that elusive figure. It's been just 10 seasons since the Warriors reached 73, but it took 20 years for the previous record to fall.
If the Thunder are hoping to make history, then they'll have to pass teams led by the likes of Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, and Wilt Chamberlain.
**Season**
**Team**
**Record**
2015-16
Golden State Warriors
73-9
1995-96
Chicago Bulls
72-10
1971-72
Los Angeles Lakers
69-13
1996-97
Chicago Bulls
69-13
1966-67
Philadelphia 76ers
68-13
The 2024-25 Thunder and 1972-73 Boston Celtics also won 68 games, but the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers did so in an 81-game season. As such, they receive the slightest of edges in winning percentage and thus round out the top five.
The question is: Can the 2025-26 Thunder finish the job it started and reach a record-setting 74 wins? Check back for game-by-game updates on the pursuit of history.