The 3 Most important games on 2024-25 NBA schedule for Thunder
After a long wait, the NBA finally released the regular season schedule for every team. The OKC Thunder received 15 nationally televised games, although it’s worth noting that 12 of them are on the road.
OKC’s season opener will be their first of these events, and the game will be broadcasted on TNT.
While there are plenty of dates fans should already be marking down on their calendars following the schedule's release, there are a few games, in particular, that one could argue are the most important for this young and hungry Oklahoma City squad.
OKC Thunder @ Denver Nuggets, October 24
The Thunder will kick off their highly anticipated 2024-25 season on the road against Denver. Not only will the on-court action itself be entertaining, but the matchup is bursting through the seams with incredible storylines.
Free agency acquisition Isaiah Hartenstein gets his first chance to prove that he fixes OKC’s rebounding, screening, and physicality. It’s the perfect opportunity too, as Nikola Jokic is currently the best player in the world and a perennial playoff headache.
The Thunder will likely be showcasing a two-big lineup featuring Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren for a large chunk of minutes because they can sag off of Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon without being severely punished.
Essentially, the season opener is an excellent interior litmus test.
Hartenstein was not the sole major offseason acquisition, though, as former Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso will also be making his Thunder debut after being swapped for Josh Giddey via trade this past June.
Caruso has been arguably the top perimeter defender across the NBA in recent years, and he joins an already formidable group that contains Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
It will be fascinating to see how Jamal Murray navigates this immense defensive pressure.
Denver suffered a huge blow when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope departed for Orlando during free agency. Will Christian Braun or Peyton Watson adequately step into his crucial 3-and-D role, or does Gilgeous-Alexander have a clean runway to the rim?
Finally, it’s potentially the debuts of rookies Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell, and Alex Ducas. Jones, in particular, is a name to watch throughout the year given the Thunder’s decent but not great forward depth.
Overall, the game is OKC’s chance to showcase that they are rightfully the betting favorites to emerge from the loaded Western Conference.