OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder, no longer the young upstarts, begin their quest for an NBA title repeat on Sunday at home against the Phoenix Suns.The Thunder remain one of the youngest teams in the league. But now, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a group of grizzled playoff veterans that won two seven-game series last year, including the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.Oklahoma City followed that up by posting the league’s best record of 64-18 this season, holding off the San Antonio Spurs to secure homecourt advantage. Now, the Thunder have embraced the new challenge of trying to win again.“This playoff run is so unique and so different to the last one, and we have to have the ability to understand that every series is going to be different, every game is going be different,” Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams said.Oklahoma City is rolling, having won 19 of 20 before resting starters the final two regular-season games. The Thunder have lost just one game since the All-Star break with Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup, and their last home loss with him was Jan. 25 against Toronto.Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in the league with 31.1 points per game. Fellow All-Star Chet Holmgren averaged 17.1 points and 8.9 assists this season and was second in the league with 1.9 blocks per game.None of that means Oklahoma City’s path will be easy. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said despite being in the play-in, the Suns are a clear playoff-caliber team that will not be taken lightly. Phoenix …
