Breaking Down OKC Thunder’s Schedule For 2025-26 Campaign

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MAY 28: Aaron Wiggins #21 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder react on the bench against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 28, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

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Fresh off an NBA Championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder are already looking ahead to next season. It will take continued development and improvement to repeat as champions, as the path will be even more difficult for OKC with other contenders around the league making significant roster upgrades.

While the start of the 2025-26 campaign is over two months away, the NBA has officially released all 30 teams’ regular season schedules. The Thunder will play all 82 games with a target on its back as the team to beat around the league.

Oklahoma City will, of course, play in the league’s season opener. The team will be presented with its championship rings, and the banner will be dropped at Paycom Center. Ironically enough, the Thunder will face the Houston Rockets, which means former Thunder superstar Kevin Durant will be in attendance and playing for the opposition.

The Thunder will also compete in several other major milestone gamedays in the NBA’s calendar, including Christmas Day against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, MLK Day against the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Year’s Eve against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Furthermore, NBA Rivals Week is back again, as classic and budding rivalries between teams and players will be the focus of 11 national games over five days from Jan. 20-24. During that event, the Thunder will match up with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers.

In the bigger picture, the Thunder is being recognized with 34 national TV games, tied with the Warriors and Lakers. After being a team that has struggled to get even a handful of these spotlight games in previous years, OKC is now deservedly considered a much-watch team. All Thunder games will also air live on the statewide Thunder Radio Network, led by WWLS (98.1 FM) The Sports Animal in Oklahoma City.

Just as the other 29 teams around the league will, the Thunder will compete in the NBA Cup, hoping to win the championship this season after falling short to the Bucks last year. Oklahoma City’s group play round this year will include contests against the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. Oklahoma City will play each of the other four teams in its group once, and its record in these four intraconference games will determine whether the Thunder qualifies for the Knockout Rounds.

From a logistics point of view, OKC will host 18 home weekend games consisting of six Friday, two Saturday and 10 Sunday contests. Additionally, the Thunder will host seven homestands comprised of at least three games, including one five-game homestand from March 27-April 5. Oklahoma City’s longest road trip of the season is five games from March 17 to 25.

The Thunder’s month-by-month breakdown includes six games in October (three home, three road), 15 games in November (seven home, eight road), 11 games in December (seven home, four road), 15 games in January (seven home, eight road), 12 games in February (six home, six road), 15 games in March (seven home, eight road) and six games in April (three home, three road). Oklahoma City will participate in 13 back-to-back sets during the 2025-26 season, consisting of three home/home, five road/road, two home/road and three road/home back-to-backs.

It will be a high-pressure season for OKC, but this team will be up for the challenge.

Winning one championship is never enough. The expectation, both internally and externally, is that the Oklahoma City Thunder will be the favorite to repeat as winners of the NBA Finals.