Overview
- Oklahoma City will unveil its championship banner and present rings before hosting Houston at the Paycom Center on Opening Night.
- All-Star Jalen Williams is out as he continues to recover from July wrist surgery, with the Thunder expected to tap their wing depth.
- Kevin Durant debuts for the Rockets against his former franchise, a return that adds intrigue alongside other ex-Thunder ties in Houston.
- Betting markets price the Thunder around 6.5 to 7 points as favorites, with predictive models giving them roughly a 70% win probability.
- Citywide festivities include a mayoral proclamation of OKC Thunder Day and strong ticket demand for the pregame ceremony.