The OKC Thunder along with all 30 NBA teams received their complete 82 game schedule for the 2018-19 season today.
Earlier this week the OKC Thunder learned they’ll play on Christmas Day and in Oakland on ring night. The full schedule was released today. As per the norm TI dives into the key takeaways from the new schedule.
Opening Game:
Date: Tuesday, October 16th
Opponent: Golden State Warriors at Oakland
Time/TV: 10:30 pm EST on TNT
Details: The second game of the NBA season features the Thunder facing last year’s champs as they received their championship rings.
Hardest month:
Every year this is a one month where the games come fast and furious. The two segments of the schedule which tend to be the most arduous are the games leading into the All-Star Break and again when the team winds down the end of the season just prior to the playoffs.
In both instances squads are looking to get through these periods with the priority of getting to the break and to the postseason healthy. And, in the latter situation with the goal of building momentum heading into their first series.
October: 6 games,
November:15 games
December: 15 games
January: 14 games
February: 11 games
March: 16 games (most games in month – with four game road trip and three back-to-backs)
April: 5 games
Trae Young’s first game in OKC with the Hawks is Nov. 30.
— Brett Dawson (@BDawsonWrites) August 10, 2018
Back to Back Games:
With the choice to start the season sooner the NBA is making an effort to reduce back-to-back game and three games in four nights. This season the OKC Thunder will play 12 back-to-back games.
Breaking down the 12 back-to-back games by month:
October: none
November: three
December: three
January: one
February: one
March: three
April: one
Notable tidbits on 2018-19 NBA schedule: No four-games-in-five nights again; back-to-backs are at historic lows (average of 13.3 per team this season, it was 19.3 in '14-15 and 14.4 last season) -- and elimination of eight games in 12 nights for first time.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 10, 2018
Home versus Road Games:
By month the following breaks down how many games will be played at home versus on the road:
October: 2 on road , 4 at home
November:, 7 on road, 8 at home (one four-game stretch)
December: 10 on road, 5 at home
January: 7 on road, 7 at home
February: 5 on road, 6 at home Note: off for All-Star break from Friday February 15 to returning Friday, February 22nd
March: 8 on road (four game stretch), 8 at home (five game stretch running into April)
April: 2 on road, 3 at home
National TV Games:
The OKC Thunder will play 32 games on National TV with 11 on TNT, 10 on ESPN and 11 on ABC.
Thunder schedule: pic.twitter.com/nx5ZEtQOWY
— Brett Dawson (@BDawsonWrites) August 10, 2018
Saturday Prime time:
- Saturday, January 19 at Philadelphia 76ers
- Saturday, February 9 at Houston Rockets
- Saturday, March 16 host Golden State Warriors (only home game vs Warriors this season)
More from Thunderous Intentions
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- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
NBA Sunday showcase games:
- Sunday, February 3 at Boston Celtics
- Sunday, April 7 at Minnesota Timberwolves
Carmelo Anthony Return:
- Thursday, November 8 featured on TNT
Christmas Day:
Date: December 25
Opponent: Houston Rockets at Toyota Center
Time: 3:00 pm EST on ABC
Full Schedule:
Visit this link for an up close look at the full OKC Thunder 2018-19 schedule from main OKC Thunder site.
Moving forward we’ll take the day to review the schedule and have more details on the top games to expect this coming season as well as the toughest road trips. Check back this weekend for insights on those games.