Saturday, Aug 19, 2023 - 01:22 AM

NBA schedule release: Oklahoma City Thunder's must-see games in 2023-24

written by Joe Lago and Sandeep Chandok, Bally Sports

Apr 14, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts to his shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday, the NBA announced its 2023-24 regular-season schedule, which includes the league's new In-Season Tournament. Below are the Thunder's most interesting matchups, including all four games of tourney group play in the new NBA Cup.

Oklahoma City Thunder's must-see games

Wednesday, Oct. 25: Thunder at Bulls – Chet Holmgren’s much-anticipated NBA debut
Sunday, Oct. 29: Nuggets at Thunder – Nikola Jokic and the defending champs come to town
Friday, Nov. 3: Warriors at Thunder – In-Season Tournament opener vs. Steph Curry and the Dubs
Friday, Nov. 10: Thunder at Kings – In-Season Tournament group game No. 2
Sunday, Nov. 12: Thunder at Suns – Chet vs. KD (check out the offseason pickup run videos)
Tuesday, Nov. 14: Spurs at Thunder – In-Season Tournament group game No. 3 vs. No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama
Thursday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 18: Thunder at Warriors – Back-to-back games in San Francisco will be OKC’s biggest early test
Tuesday, Nov. 28: Thunder at Timberwolves – In-Season Tournament group play finale
Saturday, Dec. 23: Lakers at Thunder – LeBron and AD come to town two days after the Clippers visit
Tuesday, Jan. 2: Celtics at Thunder – New year begins against the East’s betting favorite
Monday, Jan. 15: Thunder at Lakers – L.A. back-to-back begins with the Lake Show
Tuesday, Jan. 16: Thunder at Clippers – Another national TV game in Hollywood
Wednesday, Jan. 31: Nuggets at Thunder – Mid-season measuring stick game against the defending champs
Thursday, Feb. 22: Clippers at Thunder – First game after the All-Star break
Sunday, March 24: Thunder at Bucks – Supremely skilled 7-footers should be on display
Wednesday, April 10: Spurs at Thunder – Wemby vs. Chet in Rookie of the Year showdown?
Sunday, April 14: Mavericks at Thunder – Season finale will likely have playoff implications

Analysis

Sandeep Chandok: Let’s be real, every Thunder game is must-see because this team has the best young core in the league in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and Lu Dort. And after missing last season with a foot injury, Chet Holgrem makes his NBA debut against the Bulls on Oct. 25, and two games later, he’ll be guarding Nikola Jokic when the defending champs come to OKC. On Nov. 12, the Thunder go to Phoenix where Holmgren squares off against offseason workout partner Kevin Durant. Two days later, Victor Wembanyama will suit up at Paycom Center as the two Rookie of the Year favorites go head-to-head for the first time in their careers. LeBron James and the Lakers visit the Thunder a couple days before Christmas. To close out the regular season, OKC hosts the Kings, Spurs, Bucks and Mavs as they likely fight for playoff seeding in the West.

Joe Lago: If the Thunder are going to take the next step up, they'll have to take care of business in games they're supposed to win. So while the national TV matchups will be fun, star-studded events, pay attention to how OKC handles teams like the rebuilding Rockets, whom the Thunder face in a home-and-home series Feb. 25 and 27. A sweep of those games will say a lot about where Mark Daigneault's team is.