The NBA formally released the schedule for every team Thursday afternoon.
Coming off a breakout season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were awarded 25 nationally televised games. Most of OKC’s big games will be seen by a nation-wide audience, but a few huge matchups didn’t make the cut.
No.5: A trio of games against Dallas
Coming off a heated playoff series, most anticipated the NBA would try and foster a budding rivalry between two of the players who will define the next decade in Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Most ended up wrong.
Of the three matchups between the teams, which come on Nov. 17, Jan. 17, and Jan. 23, respectively, none are on national television.
It is an interesting decision by the NBA to not push what could turn into one of the league’s fiercest rivalries over the next few years, but it decided to go elsewhere.
No.4: OKC hosts Milwaukee
In early February, OKC takes on the Bucks in Oklahoma City in what is certain to be one of the NBA’s premier East-West crossover games next season.
Last season, the Bucks dealt with a midseason coaching change, a last-second blockbuster trade to bring in Damian Lillard, and injuries up and down the roster. This season, Lillard is now familiar with his surroundings, Doc Rivers has had time to install his principles over the offseason and the team brought in quality depth pieces in Gary Trent Jr. and Delon Wright.
Needless to say, the Bucks should be heavily improved and OKC is one of the best teams in the NBA, so it should be a barn-burner assuming health.
No.3: The Clippers and the Thunder ring in the new year in OKC
Until Gilgeous-Alexander retires in over a decade, the Clippers and Thunder will always be attached.
With Paul George going to Philadelphia over the summer LAC has nothing left to show for the blockbuster trade that brought George and Kahwi Leonard back in 2019. Meanwhile, OKC holds the right to use the Clippers’ draft pick in each of the next three seasons.
On January 2, the Clippers come to OKC in a game that will surely see the Paycom Center packed to the brim.
From a narrative standpoint, it’s SGA vs. the team that dealt him, from a reality standpoint, each Clipper loss means OKC has a higher percentage to land a premium pick in a loaded 2025 draft.
No.2: Houston and OKC renew rivalry four times
For as long as OKC has been in the spotlight, Houston has been one of the team’s biggest rivals.
Now, Houston is loaded with a bushel of young talent and seems poised for a rapid ascent up the conference standings. It also has an interesting young duo in Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. Houston also has interesting young pieces in Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr..
Games between OKC and Houston always feel somewhat special, and with both teams emerging as contenders or potential contenders in the West, the games will have as much meaning as they ever have.
No.1: OKC goes to the Windy City to start the season
After the Bulls and Thunder swapped Alex Caruso and Josh Giddey this summer, any game between the teams immediately felt like somewhat of a big deal.
Giddey, for all his faults, will always be a memorable piece of OKC’s rebuild, and Caruso is one of the most beloved Bulls by the fanbase since the Derrick Rose era. It will be fascinating to see main option Giddey in front of his new home crowd, and Caruso will be filling in every gap OKC needs him to.
This won’t be the best of the games on this list in terms of final score, but fans from both sides will be more emotionally invested in this game than almost any other on the schedule.
