The New Orleans Pelicans dropped their 8th straight game after a 137-101 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City jumped out to a fast 13-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back.

The Oklahoma City Thunder made their final roster moves during the NBA trade deadline. While they made zero major moves, they completed some on the margins. Considering they sit pretty at the top of the West despite juggling injuries, it's easy to see why they stood pat.

The Thunder more than survived without the 2022 second overall pick, going 32-7. With him, their defensive ceiling is the sky.

The narratives around the Oklahoma City Thunder this season has predominantly fallen back on the play of MVP candidate, and the league's leading scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Needless to say, that's fair in many respects.

The rest of the West is bungled together in different tiers. Some shocking mid-season acquisitions have shaken the West's hierarchy. To prepare for the final two months of the regular season,

Saturday night's battle between the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder is one of those rare moments where a game can be a proving ground for both teams. Oklahoma City has been dominating the Western Conference with a four-game winning streak and an overall first-seeded record of 41-9.