The Thunder will tip off their first NBA Cup game on Friday and could make an early-season run after establishing themselves as a contender last season. In its second edition, known as the In-Season Tournament last season,

For the second consecutive season, the NBA will have an in-season tournament during the 2024-25 campaign. Officially branded the Emirates NBA Cup, all 30 teams around the league will compete for a chance to win a championship and prize money.

Forty-three teams in NBA history have started a season 7-0. Only one of them, the 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder, have won their first seven games all by double digits. The Thunder’s closest game — a 105-93 win over the Spurs on Oct. 30 — wasn’t at all close.

While the Thunder have fared well in the two games since Chet Holmgren's pelvic fracture, they're facing a much larger opponent in the Phoenix Suns. With Kevin Durant sidelined though, it'll be an interesting matchup.

The 2024-25 Thunder are also the first team in franchise history since the 2011-12 OKC squad to start their season at 5-0. That roster — headlined by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden — went to the NBA Finals and lost to the Miami Heat in five games.

After an 0-3 start to the week, the Timberwolves have one more chance to notch a win as they head to Sacramento to face the Kings. The Wolves simply can’t afford to lose this game if they want to compete for the NBA Cup and maintain a semblance of pride.