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Inside The Thunder

OKC Thunder Set for Another Classic Matchup to Start NBA Season

Oklahoma City played in a thriller to start 2025-26 and is in for another bout to kick off 2026-27.
Randall Sweet|
May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) controls the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) in the fourth quarter during game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center.
May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) controls the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) in the fourth quarter during game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Oklahoma City Thunder

For the second consecutive season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will play on the NBA's opening night.

After winning the 2025 NBA title, OKC met Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets on opening night of the 2025-26 campaign, competing in an instant classic that went to double overtime. In the end, the Thunder won 125-124, kicking off a historic 24-1 start to the season with a narrow victory.

While Mark Daigneault's team didn't repeat as champions in 2026, Oklahoma City will still play on opening night to help usher in the 2026-27 NBA season. The Thunder will meet San Antonio in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals, adding another chapter to the budding rivalry between the two squads.

The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons meet at 2 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to officially begin the 2026-27 campaign, followed by a 6 p.m. matchup between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. OKC and San Antonio wrap up opening day at 8 p.m., with each game airing on NBC and Peacock.

The NBA also announced that the Thunder will meet the Denver Nuggets at 8:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Oct. 22, and the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m. CT on Christmas Day, both airing on ESPN.

Oklahoma City's first matchup against the Spurs could make for another opening-night thriller, similar to the Thunder's start to the 2025-26 season. Of course, this time around will look different for Daigneault's squad.

The Thunder raised a banner in its home arena to start last season, and will be tasked with a road game against a stronger team to start the 2026-27 campaign. If OKC is healthy to start the year, though, the matchup could be another Western Conference Finals preview.

Jalen Williams missed opening night in 2025, as well as the majority of Oklahoma City's playoff series against the Spurs, and should be back on opening night. With both teams at full strength and poised to rebound in 2026-27 after coming up short in 2026, opening night should be an entertaining showdown between two of the league's best teams.

Additionally, both rosters will also look different, as the Spurs signed Tobias Harris over the offseason, and the Thunder traded a trio of rotation players. Opening night will be the first opportunity for both teams to see their new lineups in action and get an idea of what this year's rotation could look like.

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Randall Sweet
RANDALL SWEET

Randall Sweet is a 2022 Oklahoma University graduate who has formerly written for the Norman Transcript and OU Daily. Randall also serves as the Communications Coordinator at Visit OKC.

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