The OKC Thunder 2021-22 NBA schedule has been released, along with key dates and must-watch games, there is also the growing excitement around Oklahoma City with the news that fans will be allowed in the Paycom Center for the first time since March 2020.
The Oklahoma City Thunder schedule has many quirks, such as 14 back-to-back sets and a tough five games in seven nights stretch in mid-November. However, as the fans get their hands on the slate, they are looking for one thing: What games should I attend?
If you are like me, you start thinking way too far into the future and are almost an over preparer. So of course, I am spending this article telling you which games are worth making the trek to Oklahoma City, entering the Paycom Center, and enjoying a night of basketball four months in advance.
Unless you live in the heart of Oklahoma City, most games you attend have to be well thought out and planned. Of all 41 contests that will take place in the PCC during the course of the 2021-22 NBA season, a four games stretch in December leaps off the page.
The Oklahoma City Thunder return home from a three-game road trip that has them traveling to Memphis, Detriot, and Toronto and enter a four-game homestand that provides four big-ticket matchups.
With a day off after returning from Canada, the OKC Thunder will welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to Oklahoma City on Friday, December 10th. The Lakers will be on the second night of a back-to-back coming to town on the heels of a road contest with the Memphis Grizzlies.
While this could be a cause for concern, raising questions if LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook will take the floor on the back half of a back-to-back, given that Westbrook will return to the arena, fanbase, franchise, and community that he built Frank Vogel might be inclined to manage the load in a way that allows the trio to play in Bricktown.
Following a day off, the Dallas Mavericks will stroll into the Paycom Center with Luka Doncic dazzling the Thunder faithful. The Mavs see a day off before this contest so the entire team, including Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, should be active for the December 12th tilt.
After two more off days, the Pelicans march into OKC to take on the Thunder on December 15th bringing one of the NBA’s biggest attractions, Zion Williams, to town.
The OKC Thunder will have another two-day break before ending the homestand with Paul George and the L.A. Clippers. Not only will the Thunder faithful get to welcome back their one-time MVP Candidate forward, but it is the rare win-win game.
With the Thunder owning the Clippers 2022 unprotected first-round NBA Draft pick, no matter if OKC pulls off a surprise win, or falls to the Western Conference runner-ups, the team’s draft position will improve.
You will be hard-pressed to find a four-game home stint that provides more bang for your buck than the one the NBA schedule makers have granted to the Thunder.
As we inch toward Christmas, and you search for ways to entertain yourself and your family, staying a week in Oklahoma City to see the likes of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Luka Doncic, Zion Williams, and Kristaps Porzingis is a great start. Do not forget the flashy lights, hot chocolate, and carols along the way.