The Thunder are finally over .500. Will they make the playoffs?
Yes, unless there are more serious injuries.
Can OKC catch up with 41 games remaining? This chart provides some needed context.
The Thunder have been quite good when both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been available. OKC is 13-5 in games in which both played, 5-5 when just Westbrook and not Durant was available and 3-10 when both were out. That makes perfect sense. It's pretty much exactly what you'd expect would happen to this team in those situations.
So the question of whether the Thunder will make the playoffs is one of whether Durant and Westbrook will remain healthy. If so, OKC is playing .722 ball and would finish with something around a 51-31 record, which should darn well be good enough for a playoff spot. (Phoenix is on pace for a 48-34 season.) If Durant misses additional time, or if Westbrook gets hurt, the chase becomes more difficult. There is not a huge margin for error here.
Sometimes, basketball is pretty simple.
