Thunder 2025-26 NBA Schedule: Biggest Takeaways from Holiday Matchups to Brutal January Road Swing

The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder now know their full path for the 2025-26 season. With the schedule officially released, here are the biggest storylines and notable stretches from Jeremie Poplin and Steve McGehee’s Thunder Breakdown discussion.

1. Season Starts with Star Power

1. The Thunder open at home against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21, complete with a championship banner ceremony.
2. Game 2 is on the road against the Indiana Pacers — a rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals.
3. Both games will be nationally televised.

2. Holiday Highlights

1. OKC is home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
2. Christmas Day brings the Spurs to Paycom Center, following a Dec. 23 matchup in San Antonio — a potential showcase for Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama.
3. The team will once again play on New Year’s Eve, hosting the Portland Trail Blazers.

3. National Spotlight Like Never Before

1. Fresh off a title, the Thunder have 34 nationally televised games, tied for the most in the NBA.
2. New TV deals with NBC, Peacock, Prime Video, ESPN, and ABC mean more exposure — but also more streaming subscriptions for fans.

4. Early Road Challenge

1. Three of the first four games are on the road.
2. The first five-game stretch includes a back-to-back from Dallas to OKC.

5. Brutal January Road Trip

1. Starting Jan. 15: Houston → Miami → Cleveland → Milwaukee.
2. One of the toughest stretches of the season in terms of competition and travel conditions.

6. March Grind

1. Road: Orlando, Brooklyn, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston.
2. Home: Chicago, New York, Detroit, Lakers, Utah.
3. Late-season road swing at Lakers, Clippers, and Denver before closing the year vs. Phoenix.

7. Spurs Rivalry Potential

1. Thunder and Spurs meet four times in 43 days.
2. The league is clearly leaning into the Chet vs. Wemby storyline, though both players downplay the individual matchup.

8. Travel Realities

1. Temperature swings on certain trips mean Thunder staffers are packing flip-flops and parkas in the same suitcase.
2. McGehee’s pro tip: know which road hotels have free laundry.

With a loaded schedule, heavy national TV presence, and the target that comes with being champs, the 2025-26 season promises plenty of drama for the Thunder and their fans.

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