The OKC Thunder will play in 13 back-to-backs in 2022-23 season

The Oklahoma City Thunder released their 2022-23 regular season schedule, and there are plenty of takeaways. From Chet Holmgren’s homecoming, a return to National Television, and league-low miles traveled there are plenty of keynotes from this schedule. As the season runs from October through April, the OKC Thunder will be met with 13 back-to-back sets.

The Thunder have plenty of adversity to deal with this season, after the organization lost their second overall pick, Chet Holmgren, for the entire 2022-23 NBA season. Oklahoma City, who was already projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA, now has to survive the season short-handed, down one of their best players.

The OKC Thunder are met with 13 back-to-back sets during the course of the 2022-23 NBA season

Despite playing in 13 back-to-back sets, the OKC Thunder do not log the most back-to-backs in the league, they sit at the average rate. Utah, Chicago, and Golden State all play 15 back-to-back sets. Some teams play as few as 12 back-to-back sets during this season, in which the league sees historically low travel miles per team.

The back-to-back sets: 

October 22nd and 23rd: @ Nuggets, Vs Wolves
November 13th and 14th: @ Knicks, @ Celtics
November 25th and 26th: vs Bulls, @ Rockets
December 16th and 17th: vs Wolves, vs Grizzlies
January 3rd and 4th: vs Celtics, @ Magic
January 12th and 13th: @ 76ers, @ Bulls
Feb. 6th and 7th: @ Warriors, @ Lakers
Feb 23rd and 24th: @ Jazz, @ Suns
Feb. 28th, March 1: vs Kings, vs Lakers
March 7th and 8th: Vs Warriors, vs Suns
March 11th and 12th: @ Pelicans, @ Spurs
March 23rd and 24th: @ Clippers, @ Lakers
March 28th and 29th: vs Hornets, vs Pistons

These back-to-back sets are only part of why the Oklahoma City Thunder grade out to having the toughest schedule in the NBA by a wide margin. Mark Daigneault will have to manage the team’s workload while coaching a lot of young players that will not be conditioned for an 82-game stretch.