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OKC’s NBA Cup Semis Loss is No Big Deal

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In the aftermath of the Thunder vs Spurs matchup, it seemed that the defending champions were in a disappointing mood. Not every game is the same, and there are nights when everything’s not working out for them. OKC’s NBA Cup semis loss may be disappointing, but it’s more of a win considering the Thunder’s long-term aspirations this season.

Sure, Oklahoma City just lost in the latest Wemby vs Chet spectacle. But when you look at the bigger picture towards the goal that the Thunder have set this year, you’d be surprised to know how overrated these losses are for this squad. After all, they are now getting hunted by all the teams in the league, so it’s no surprise that this loss is quite blown out on social media.

OKC’s NBA Cup Semis Loss is No Big Deal

Come to think of it, the last time the Thunder lost was in November. OKC went down fighting in that clash, and it was even decided by the final possession. This loss to the San Antonio Spurs is no different. The Thunder were committing errors left and right, and it cost them the game dearly. What made the stakes bigger was the fact that it was the NBA Cup Semis. OKC has fallen short for the second year in a row.

Other than that? There’s actually no bigger bearing to begin with. It’s just that there will be no OKC NBA Cup championship this year.

OKC Lost By Two Points, Again

Flashback to that tough loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. OKC was not at full strength. They were missing both Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. In fact, they were pretty banged up that time so it was inevitable for them to lose at one point. Needless to say, OKC deserved to lose that one because of their mistakes.

The same thing can be said in the Thunder’s loss to the Spurs. Oklahoma City was up by as many as 16 points in that game—just like in the Portland loss. Sure, they were healthier than before, but this is a team that forced Victor Wembanyama to make his return. To their credit, both the Spurs and the Blazers matched the Thunder’s intensity and pace. They even defended OKC well, giving them a piece of their own medicine.

But these losses mirror each other. Oklahoma City goes up big in the early parts of the game. Then, the opposing team goes nuclear in the succeeding quarters. OKC tries to answer with some impressive plays, but then commits errors down the stretch. In the end, the Thunder ended up losing by just a basket. They also get a chance to settle scores in two more games this month.

Controversial Finishes in Both Losses

Remember when social media trolled Isaiah Joe hard for having a Kevin Durant moment? Joe was stepping on the line when he attempted a three-pointer to send the Blazers game to OT. In a sense, Alex Caruso was very vocal in the outcome of the Thunder vs Spurs. Not because he had a foot on the line, but he was involved in two critical plays that would have given OKC the win.

For one, he had a clean strip on Stephon Castle in the dying seconds of the game. The officials were calling a foul on the two-time champion, but the replay showed it was a clean. The ball was going out of bounds off the Spurs, and it infuriated Caruso. In the final play, Jalen Williams intentionally missed a free throw, and Caruso went flying for the rebound.

He had a good look, but Castle seemingly pushed him out of bounds. This caused the ball to hit the board instead, ending their 16-game winning streak, and knocking OKC out of the NBA Cup as well. This loss was so controversial that even AC himself took to social media to vent out his frustrations about the calls made in that loss to San Antonio.

Does the NBA Cup Even Matter for OKC?

We would be talking differently if the Thunder lost in the final instead of the semis. It does matter in a way, considering that the loss counts towards the season record. OKC suffered its second loss of the season, and its streak ended on a tough note. On top of that, the Thunder lose their shot at extra incentives for their players with a prize for the final winner.

But hey, players on the losing team in the semis would still get $102,994 each. That’s still a good amount. And on the bright side, OKC isn’t playing an extra game for money that also has no bearing in the regular season. This avoids potential injuries to key players such as Holmgren, J-Dub, or even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The fact that they are still on pace for a 77-5 record is still staggering. OKC is 24-2 right now, even with the NBA Cup defeat. It does seem that they can end December without a few more hiccups. They are winning games by a mile, so getting some competitive finishes is a good thing for the team as well.

To sum it up, OKC losing in the NBA Cup isn’t much of a big deal as most people think. In fact, the loss is saving the Thunder time and an extra game to play. In the long run, they may even be in a better position to keep on winning with more motivation.

Remember, the last time OKC failed in the NBA Cup, they would go on to win the NBA Finals. Think of that as a much bigger reward the Thunder is aiming for by the end of the season. No need to panic, Thunder fans.

© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The post OKC’s NBA Cup Semis Loss is No Big Deal appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.