Friday Bolts: Prime Time

If you've struggled to watch Oklahoma City Thunder games this season, it might get a little easier soon thanks to the Amazon-Diamond Sports deal announced this week. Though no immediate changes are afoot, instead of having to navigate the Bally Sports app, Amazon Prime will become the "primary streaming partner" for Diamond Sports Group, the bankrupt outfit that owns the rights to local broadcasts of Thunder games.

Amazon to Acquire Stake in Diamond Sports Under Bankruptcy Reorg, Prime Video to Become Primary Streaming Partner for RSNs

Diamond Sports Group has put together a plan to emerge from bankruptcy and remain a going concern, helped by a big new streaming deal with Amazon. Amazon has committed to making a minority investment in Diamond Sports Group, one of the largest operators of regional sports networks (RSNs) in the country, as part of Diamond’s …

Yahoo EntertainmentTodd Spangler

In the latest ESPN Power Rankings, OKC lands at no. 4

NBA Power Rankings: The Nuggets and Jamal Murray march on, while Ingram’s Pelicans stay steady

We’re approaching the halfway mark of the 2023-24 NBA season, and the trade deadline is just around the corner. With three weeks to go, here’s where all 30 teams check in.

ESPNESPN

And over on NBA.com, the power rankings released earlier this week have OKC at no. 1--this before OKC dropped back to back games in Los Angeles.

Power Rankings, Week 13: Thunder hold No. 1 spot as season nears halfway point

Oklahoma City stays at the top and Miami enters the Top 10 as the regular season reaches the midway point this week.

NBA.comJohn Schuhmann

In The Ringer's Midseason Roundtable, the Thunder got plenty of mentions, including by Howard Beck who named OKC the biggest surprise of the season so far.

We knew Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant. We knew Jalen Williams was coming. We knew Chet Holmgren was (at minimum) intriguing. We knew the Thunder had talent and depth and promise, enough to make a leap in the standings this season. But ... THIS leap? No, this is more like Neo cracking the asphalt as he fires himself into the stratosphere.

The 2023-24 NBA Midseason Roundtable

Biggest surprise of the first half? One trade we’d love to see before the deadline? To mark the halfway point of this season, our staff got together to answer five big questions from around the league.

The RingerThe Ringer Staff

After the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, Paul George called the PG-SGA trade a win for both sides.

“I just think both sides won," George said. "I did think it was quite a lot that the Clippers were willing to give up. Their commitment to me is my commitment to them. Very appreciative to them for going out and grabbing me."

The answer to the question below is yes.

Are the Oklahoma City Thunder an NBA championship contender already?

Are the Thunder good enough to win the NBA championship this year? Let’s present both sides.

SBNation.comMat Issa

Thunder good.

Shai, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams are among the best values in the league.

OKC’s Giddey cleared as police end investigation

Thunder guard Josh Giddey will not face charges after Newport Beach police said they were “unable to corroborate any criminal activity” following an investigation into allegations of an improper relationship with an underage girl.

ESPNTim MacMahon