Every great team hits a speed bump. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, it came Saturday night in Toronto.

The Toronto Raptors pulled off a 103-101 upset over the Thunder, ending OKC's quest to match the Golden State Warriors' legendary 73-9 season record. The Thunder fell to 37-9, and with losses piling up—even if they're rare—that historic benchmark is now mathematically impossible.

Let me be clear: this doesn't diminish what the Thunder have accomplished this season. They're still dominant. They're still the team to beat. But chasing ghosts can be a dangerous game, and sometimes you need a reality check.

The Raptors played inspired basketball, according to the NBA box score, defending with intensity and executing down the stretch when it mattered most. This is the kind of game that defines a season—not for the favorite, but for the underdog that refuses to roll over.

Here's the question worth asking: was the Thunder's focus on the record a distraction? Did they spend too much energy worrying about history instead of just playing their game? When you're thinking about 73-9, you're not thinking about the opponent in front of you.

The Golden State Warriors learned this lesson the hard way in 2016. They chased the regular season record, got it, then lost in the Finals when their legs and minds were exhausted. The Thunder still have time to recalibrate. They're still the odds-on favorites. But this loss might be a blessing in disguise.

Sometimes you need to lose the battle to win the war.

Now the Thunder can focus on what actually matters: championships. Not records. Not regular season glory. Just winning when it counts in June. That's what separates great teams from legendary ones.

The Raptors? They just proved they belong in the conversation. And that's what sports is all about, folks.