Thunder tank their way into record 57-point loss to short-handed Pacers
Taking the 2020-21 Oklahoma City Thunder and removing players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort and Al Horford sounds more like a psychology experiment than a real NBA team, but it was definitely real on Saturday.
The result: the largest home loss in the history of the NBA.
Despite being short-handed themselves, the Indiana Pacers blew out the Thunder on Saturday to the tune of 152-95, a 57-point loss. It was the largest loss of the season, surpassing a 53-point loss for the Golden State Warriors.
How one-sided was this game? Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double by the end of the first half, a feat not seen in the last 25 years, and finished with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 14 assists. That was enough to overcome the absences of Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, T.J. Warren and more.
Let's just do a quick rundown of all the ways this game, in which the Pacers led by as much as 67, made ugly history:
The Thunder lost to the Pacers 152-95. OKC's 57-point margin of defeat is the worst home loss in NBA history.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are the 1st team to score 150 points and give up less than 100 since 1993, when the Kings beat the 76ers, 154-98. pic.twitter.com/mGndRJjBp3— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 2, 2021
FINAL | Pacers 152, Thunder 95
Worst loss in Thunder history (57). Most points allowed in regulation in Thunder history (and second most in any game). Indiana's most points in a game in franchise history.
Lots of history made tonight, but hardly any in the Thunder's favor.— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) May 2, 2021
FINAL: Pacers 152, Thunder 95.
- Most points in franchise history
- Most 3s in a game (21)
And the Pacers were without five rotation guys, including three starters.
They led by 67 with 4:12 left, then were outscored 13-3 to close the game.— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) May 2, 2021
As a team, the Thunder shot 34.2 percent from the field. Moses Brown, who was playing in the G League in March, led the team with 16 points.
As shocking as all of these numbers are, it's not too much of a surprise to see them from the 21-43 Thunder. The team has been openly rebuilding this season, and was without arguably its three most established players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains out with right foot plantar fasciitis, Lu Dort was ruled out Saturday to a supposed hip issue and Al Horford has been in the tanking phantom zone since March.
In the end, it's only one loss for the Thunder, and that will be more than fine to the team's decision-makers this year.
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