Mark Daigneault’s Oklahoma City Thunder capped off a historic regular season with a 115-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, securing a franchise-record 68 wins. Despite resting all of their starters, the Thunder dominated behind stellar performances from their bench.
“The professionalism by our players the last two games has been big time,” Daigneault said post-game. “Great win. Obviously, a little disjointed, but we shot just 19% from three and were still able to win because of our defense and some easy baskets.”
Oklahoma City never trailed in the contest, taking an early 38-19 lead in the first quarter. Andrew Wiggins led the way with 28 points, while rookie Branden Carlson added a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Thunder’s bench outscored New Orleans 62-35 in the first half alone.
Daigneault praised the team’s growth, particularly noting the contributions of Kenrich Williams, one of the early leaders of the rebuilding process. “He’s been an unbelievable part of this,” Daigneault remarked. “He’s a high-character, hardworking, competitive, high-integrity person. He’s been a leader for us from the beginning.”
The Thunder’s performance wasn’t just about the win but also the milestones they set. With 68 wins, they clinched the best record in NBA history and finished with the highest point differential in the league.
“We can appreciate and be grateful for the things we’ve accomplished and still be hungry,” Daigneault acknowledged. “It was an unbelievable regular season. It’s a special group of guys that deserve these sorts of things to happen for them.”
While Oklahoma City is riding high, the team remains focused on the playoffs. Daigneault emphasized the importance of staying “present” as they gear up for their first-round matchup against the winner of the Western Conference play-in tournament.
“We’re playing well, we’re healthy, and we’re ready for the playoffs,” Daigneault said. “This is what you compete for — to be able to compete on the biggest stages.”
