Going, going, gone: Tulsa fans race for blue-and-orange threads before the Thunder's big game

With the Oklahoma City Thunder tipping off in the NBA Finals Thursday night, fans across the state are racing to get their hands on blue-and-orange gear.

From major retailers like Rally House to secondhand stops like Goodwill, demand for Thunder apparel has surged this week, and in many places, shelves are already running thin.

“We do get a lot of athletic stuff in, some Thunder stuff we get in,” said Teresa Harmon, Goodwill store manager, said. “Usually it blows right out the front door.”

She says items with the Thunder logo don’t sit for long, especially as excitement builds around the Finals.

At Rally House Owasso, store manager Josie Russell says they have a good stockpile of merch.

“We’re asked for a lot of flags, obviously all the tees,” Russell said. “Everyone loves the t-shirts, hats. We’re just excited to be able to rep our team.”

The store plans to open as early as 8 a.m. to meet the rush during the Finals.

Even members of our newsroom got in on the hunt. Producer Seth Becker took his lunch break to scour local racks, digging for the perfect Thunder tee.

“I’ve been looking for like 20, 30 minutes,” Becker said. “I came here thinking, well, if they go other places and strike out, I’d try my luck.”

Fans hoping to snag merchandise ahead of Game One may want to act quickly. Many stores say new stock is coming in, but it rarely stays long.

Tipoff is set for Thursday night.