Oklahoma City Thunder Becomes First NBA Team To Reach 50 Wins In 2026

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Oklahoma City Thunder reached 50 wins first in the NBA, edging the Golden State Warriors 104-97, while the Orlando Magic stopped the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Atlanta Hawks extended their surge against the Philadelphia 76ers in a results-packed Saturday schedule.

The victories reshaped both conferences. Oklahoma City created space atop the Western Conference, Golden State slipped closer to the play-in zone, Orlando climbed above the Miami Heat in the Southeast Division, and Atlanta closed further on Philadelphia and the division leaders.

Oklahoma City moved to 50-15 after securing a fifth straight win and stretching the gap over the San Antonio Spurs, who sit 46-17, to three games for the Western Conference’s best record, despite the Thunder scoring only 37 points after half-time.

The Thunder were ahead by 13 at the break but needed strong defence late, holding Golden State to 14 fourth-quarter points to complete the 104-97 result and leave the Warriors at 32-31, sitting eighth in the West and one game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers at 31-32.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 27 points for Oklahoma City, recording a 125th consecutive outing with at least 20 points and moving within one game of Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record, while Gui Santos responded for Golden State with a career-best 22 points plus 11 rebounds in the Warriors’ ninth defeat in 14 games.

The Magic strengthened their position in the Eastern Conference with a 119-92 home victory over Minnesota, taking Orlando to 34-28 and giving the team a third straight win, enough to move fractionally ahead of the 35-29 Miami Heat for first place in the Southeast Division.

Desmond Bane set the tone with 30 points, while Paolo Banchero contributed 25 points and 15 rebounds as Orlando closed the first half on a 19-2 burst, turning the game around to lead by 10 at half-time after Minnesota had arrived having won eight of the previous nine games.

Anthony Edwards finished with 34 points for the Timberwolves, now 40-24 and fourth in the West, but Minnesota posted season-low shooting marks at 35.7 per cent overall and 22.5 per cent from three-point range and fell under 100 points for only the fourth time in the 2025-26 campaign, with two of those occasions coming in the last five outings.

NBA results: Hawks extend winning streak past 76ers

Atlanta’s 125-116 success over Philadelphia lifted the Hawks to 33-31 and a season-best six-game winning streak, bringing Atlanta within 1½ games of the eighth-placed 76ers, who stand 34-29, while also keeping the Hawks within two games of division rivals Orlando and Miami.

Jalen Johnson, a first-time All-Star this season, led Atlanta with 35 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals as the Hawks overturned a seven-point half-time deficit, outscoring Philadelphia 59-43 across the final two quarters to secure a streak not matched since the period from November 27 to December 6, 2024.

The 76ers slipped to a third defeat in four games and saw All-Star Tyrese Maxey leave with 16 seconds remaining because of a right-hand injury after posting 31 points, five assists and four steals in 38 minutes, while Quentin Grimes added 26 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 24 in the defeat.

The results left Oklahoma City strengthening control of the Western Conference race, Orlando edging ahead in a tight Southeast Division battle, and Atlanta closing on both Philadelphia and the division leaders, while Golden State and Minnesota absorbed setbacks that could prove important in the season’s playoff positioning.