The Chicago Bulls came into their matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night as one of the hottest teams in basketball, having won nine of their last 12 games. It did not matter in the slightest. The Thunder absolutely routed them, winning a dominant 145-117 ball game, and securing their spot in NBA history.
Oklahoma City is on a hot streak of their own. The win against Chicago marks the 10th victory in a row for Mark Daigneault's group. However, this positive result extended far past a double-digit winning streak.
The result secured a piece of NBA history for the Thunder, locking them into having the best record against a conference in league history. Their mark of 28-1, with one game remaining against the Detroit Pistons, is the new standard. They surpassed three teams who were previously tied for the record.
2015-16 Golden State Warriors, the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks, and the 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers were all tied for a share of that history previously, each holding a record of 27-3. Win or lose against the Pistons, the Thunder have done enough to surpass those teams.
Mark Daigneault commented on another historic feat for Oklahoma City. It was something that took a while to fully click for his group.
"We didn't even know that was a record or existed until we were at the doorstep of it," the Thunder head coach told Clemente Almanza.
Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sends Clear Message After Thunder Make History
This season has involved Oklahoma City being in a bunch of historic landmarks. The attention, in that regard, now shifts to the net rating record.
The Thunder are currently tied with the 1995-96 Bulls for the highest net rating in NBA history. Both teams possess a mark of 13.4. With a handful of games remaining, the team can take sole ownership of that record as well. It is worth noting that each team in that top five has gone on to win that season's NBA championship.
Related: Josh Giddey's Game-Winner Forcing Reevaluation of Thunder-Bulls Trade
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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 8:20 AM.