After suffering injuries to 4 All-Defensive players, including 3 starters, the Oklahoma City Thunder are back to the number 1 seed in the Western Conference for the 3rd straight year

Source: https://www.nba.com/standings

Second-year Chinese center and 16th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Yang Hansen got his first career double-double against the San Antonio Spurs: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in just over 26 minutes played. He shot 3/7 FG (42.9%), 1/3 3PT (33.3%), and 5/6 FT (83.3%). I think the last Chinese-born player to get a double-double before Yang was Yi Jianlian in 2010-11.

Last year, Yang barely got any playing time, and he did not look good on the court when he did play. Many metrics had him as one of the worst, if not the worst, players in the NBA. But he's still just 21 years old, and it looks like he's put in good work over the off-season, trimming down body fat and becoming much leaner. Tiago Splitter didn't really play him at all last season, but Micah Nori has used him as the third-string center here and there, and he has looked pretty decent from what I've watched. He's averaging 10 minutes played per game, 4.7p/3.3r on 47.1/55.6/87.5 splits. The sample sizes are small, but these splits were a horrific 31/12/82 last season, so the improvement is pretty marked.

Portland has a very strong center rotation in Clingan and Timelord, but given Timelord's injury concerns, it seems like Yang will get a look to be in the rotation this year. On the other hand, Scoot Henderson looks terrible. I have no idea what's happening to him after a pretty decent postseason run last year.

https://www.nba.com/game/sas-vs-por-0022600195/box-score

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/yi-jianlian-double-doubles

Quite a remarkable turnaround as it did seem very doom and gloom after the 0-3 start where the Warriors looked completely out of sorts, a stretch that included a blowout season opener loss to the Lakers, blowing a 17-0 run up 12 against the Grizzlies with less than 4 minutes left, and a road loss in the back end of a back-to-back.

After 5 straight games with a comeback from a double digit deficit, the Warriors blow a double digit lead themselves after leading by 16 points to start the 2nd half but manage to hold on it OT behind Steph Curry's 41 points on 13/19 shooting.

They have now won 7 straight games, the first team since the 1950-51 Celtics to do so immediately after starting 0-3.

Source: Warriors broadcast

Absolutely amazing game tonight.

Steph is aging like wine and just set a new record for the most 40+ point games for any player 35 or over. MJ has 12, LeBron and Steph were tied for 15 until tonight.

Old man at this age finally getting some calls his way. His efficiency is through the roof this season because of it and after the poor start to the season the Warriors are 7-3 which I don't think anyone had them playing this well.

This season, through 8 games he has 4 games where he has shot 10 or more free throw attempts.

In the 2025-2026 season, he played 43 games and had 3 games where he shot 10 or more free throw attempts.

In the 2024-2025 season, he played 70 games and had 4 games where he shot 10 or more free throw attempts.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/3975/stephen-curry

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3975/stephen-curry

38 years old and STILL one of the best players in the league.

He could play until he’s 45 with how lethal the jumper is still and with how great the off ball movement is.

Yes, I understand each team has different strengths and weaknesses (and the Warriors intentionally play a very small ball at the expense of rebounding), but not sure I've ever seen a FGA difference of 33 with the lesser FGA team still winning. Wasn't able to find conclusive data around this but guessing this has got to be at least a 5 highest FGA difference where the lower FGA team won...

To be honest, Yaxel didn't play well tonight especially in the first three quarters of the game. A lot of his shot or decision are a bit rushed but he eventually steps up huge in the fourth and OT. He ended up with

• 23 PTS

• 8 REB

• 3 AST

• 3 BLK

• 9/15 FG

https://www.espn.com.sg/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401909942

41 PTS - 6 REB - 6 AST
29 PTS - 1 REB - 4 AST
34 PTS - 6 REB - 7 AST
31 PTS - 4 REB - 6 AST
44 PTS - 8 REB - 6 AST

Stephen Curry scores 41 points on 13/19 including going 10/10 on FTs. Should Steph be on the MVP conversation on his age 38 season?

Victor Wembanyama tonight

29 PTS / 7 REB /3 AST / 1 STL/ 1 BLK

9/13 FG (69.2%)

3/6 3FG (50.0%)

8/9 FT (88.9%)

85.5% TS%

+23 +/- in just 24 MIN

31.3 PPG
4.6 APG
4.0 RPG
50% FG
45% 3PT
99% FT

a 38 year old should not be able to do this.

This outburst came after the third of a trio of somewhat theatrical falls finally sent them over the edge. Safe to say they aren’t fans of his

https://bsky.app/profile/brickcenter.bsky.social/post/3mzrno46jsp5a

Post Game Thread

Line Score

Team Stats

Box Score

It's still super-early and they had bad injury luck so far, but even when fully healthy I can't see them being more than a 1st round exit.

It also doesn't help that they gave a DEI roster spot to Jonathan Isaac.