The OKC Thunder's schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season is out, and there's no shortage of interesting matchups.
OKC has 30 nationally-televised games on its schedule, which is the fifth-highest total in the league. It'll also play on some of the biggest days in basketball such as Opening Night, Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In this article, I'll list the top 10 matchups on OKC's schedule to look forward to. It'll be in chronological order, and I won't repeat opponents for the sake of having some variety.
Let's get into it:
OKC Thunder schedule release 2026-27: See all 82 NBA game times, TV channels
Top 10 OKC Thunder matchups on 2026-27 NBA schedule
Oct. 20: OKC gets road rematch with San Antonio on Opening Night
Everyone saw this one coming.
It was only right that the new season tipped off with the league's most anticipated rematch. OKC will travel on Opening Night to face San Antonio, a team it lost to in seven games during the 2026 Western Conference finals.
The Spurs should only get better with a young core of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. And the Thunder should also be more dangerous with former All-NBA forward Jalen Williams now healthy. It's a must-watch matchup and the perfect start to the season.
Oct. 22: OKC hosts Nikola Jokic, Denver in home opener
OKC's first home game will be against another Western Conference heavyweight in Denver.
The two teams have clashed before in the playoffs, with the Thunder beating the Nuggets in seven games during the 2025 Western Conference semifinals. And they've clashed on the court since then with some chippy contests.
This is also a matchup between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, who've combined for five of the NBA's last six Most Valuable Player awards. It'll be a star-studded showdown between two teams with history.
Nov. 18: OKC hosts Atlanta for Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins reunion
OKC made multiple cost-cutting moves this offseason, and that included trading Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins to Atlanta in two separate trades.
This game marks the former Thunder guards' first game back in town, and they should both get a lot of love from the crowd. They did help the franchise win its first NBA championship in 2025, after all.
On top of that storyline, it should also be a good matchup. Atlanta pushed New York, the eventual champion, to six games in the first round of last year's playoffs. Now it's even deeper with Dort and Wiggins in the mix.
Dec. 22: OKC hosts Isaiah Joe, Detroit
Isaiah Joe should also get a lot of love when he returns to OKC on Dec. 22.
Joe spent four seasons with the team before being traded to Detroit this summer. He was as consistent as it gets from deep, shooting at least 40% on 3-pointers in each season.
Joe now joins a Detroit team that should also be highly competitive. The Pistons finished first in the Eastern Conference last season with former OSU star Cade Cunningham leading the way before losing in the second round of the playoffs.
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Dec. 25: OKC travels to face Anthony Edwards, Minnesota on Christmas Day
OKC will play on Christmas Day for a second straight season, and it'll go on the road this time to face Minnesota.
It's a familiar opponent for the Thunder, which is in the same division as the Timberwolves. The two teams also met in the 2025 Western Conference finals, where OKC won in five games.
But there should be some added intrigue this time around now that Minnesota has traded for LaMelo Ball. He'll form an electric backcourt duo with fellow star Anthony Edwards.
Dec. 31: OKC hosts Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami on New Year's Eve
OKC has hosted a New Year's Eve game every season since its inaugural 2008-09 campaign. It's a tradition at this point, and it'll continue when the team hosts Miami on Dec. 31.
The Heat finally landed its next superstar this summer by trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He's one of the most unstoppable scorers in the NBA, and he'll thrive defensively alongside Bam Adebayo and Davion Mitchell.
Of course, OKC also has an elite defense. That should make this chess match of a contest a fun watch.
Jan. 13: OKC hosts Kevin Durant, Houston
All eyes are on Kevin Durant whenever he comes back to OKC. It's where he became a superstar and an MVP in the early years of his career before infamously signing with Golden State in 2016.
Plenty of Thunder fans still haven't forgiven him for that decision, which is why he gets mercilessly booed every time he touches the ball inside Paycom Center. That'll surely be the case again when Durant and Houston come to town on Jan. 13.
Maybe the boos won't be as loud this time. Maybe there'll be more appreciation for everything Durant did in OKC, especially after former star teammate Russell Westbrook's recent retirement. Or maybe that's just naïve thinking. Either way, all eyes will be on Durant again.
Jan. 18: OKC travels to face Cooper Flagg, Dallas on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of the biggest days in the NBA. And while OKC isn't on the slate of nationally-televised games, it'll still travel to face Dallas.
This surely would've been a national TV game a few years ago, back when there was a budding rivalry with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. But that storyline ended when he got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Still, Cooper Flagg is an exciting young player to watch. And with Kyrie Irving also back after missing all of last season due to a torn ACL, there should be some anticipation for this matchup.
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Feb. 5: Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton makes long-awaited return to OKC
The last time Tyrese Haliburton played inside Paycom Center was Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. And it ended abruptly for the Indiana star, who tore his Achilles during the first quarter and had to watch from the locker room as his Pacers fell short of a title.
Indiana returned to OKC last season and even earned an unlikely win, but Haliburton didn't make the trip. He understandably stayed back in Indiana while recovering from his injury, which caused him to miss the entire campaign.
Haliburton is now healthy, though. And if he's able to suit up for Indiana's game at OKC on Feb. 5, he should get a standing ovation from the crowd. He deserves a ton of respect, and so do the Pacers for that magical playoff run.
Feb. 25: OKC faces reigning champion New York at Madison Square Garden
Every team looks forward to road games against New York. How could you not want to play inside the iconic Madison Square Garden?
But there will be even more excitement this season now that the Knicks are the reigning champions. The target will be even bigger in The Big Apple.
This Feb. 25 game will mark a meeting between the league's two most recent champs, and everyone in the basketball world should be watching.
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder schedule features these 10 games we can't wait to watch in 2026-27 season