The Thunder should root for the Rockets to advance. Their recent loss to them is mostly the motivation for that. Plus, Houston is near OKC in the standings. An NBA Cup win will give it more breathing room. It'd also be a nice palate cleanser from OKC's most annoying loss.

Alexander’s superstar sins were forgiven.  Just days after the Thunder guard was stunned by the Pelicans in Saturday’s second half, Gilgeous-Alexander's mistakes and mortality were washed away.

After taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder in last season’s Western Conference semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks saw their NBA Cup hopes dashed in OKC.