Tag: 2024-25 regular season

Dissecting the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2024-25 NBA schedule

What are the important dates and tilts you have to keep in mind?

By now, most fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten themselves a chance to take at least a cursory glance at the Thunder’s schedule for the 2024-25 NBA season soon to kick off at the end of the month of October.

Some of them may have even taken a deeper dive into OKC’s campaign. But a deeper look than who the team will play on opening night and the last few games of the regular season, along with the major tent pole games on Christmas and Martin Luther King Day is on order. To such an end, the hosts of the Athletic “Down to Dunk – an OKC Thunder Podcast” show, Andrew Schlecht and Michele Berra, dissected the team’s schedule for your benefit.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about OKC’s regular season schedule for 2024-25, and all the important dates and tilts you have to keep in mind.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Who are the biggest threats to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference?

Which West teams are the biggest challengers to OKC?

Who are the biggest threats to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference? The Thunder finished the 2023-24 regular season with the Western Conference’s best record. And while they did not do quite as well as they might have hoped in the West playoffs, falling to the runner-up Dallas Mavericks in six games in the second round, they addressed their weaknesses this past offseason.

Which West teams are the biggest challengers to OKC? The Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves? The Phoenix Suns? A resurgent Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies? And what about the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and the Mavs?

The host of the “Locked on Thunder” podcast, Rylan Stiles, recently took some tie to sit down with guest Derek Parker to talk over those potential threats to OKC on a recent episode of their show. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking like one of the scariest teams in the NBA for 2024-25

The growth of Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have put the Thunder in pole position entering the coming season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking like one of the scariest teams in the NBA for the 2024-25 season ahead. The ball club is poised to start their campaign as among the highest-regarded teams in the league’s Western Conference, and after their play in the season prior, it is not hard to understand why.

Despite being one of the youngest clubs in the Association for the 2023-24 season, the Thunder finished the season with the best record in the West. And then in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, OKC made some noise as well, making the second round before falling to the eventual runners-up in the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

The growth of star guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander, forward Jalen Williams and rising star big man Chet Holmgren have put the Thunder in pole position entering the coming season. Take a look at the clip embedded below from the folks behind the “Backyard Buckets” YouTube channel to hear why.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

What do we need to know about the Oklahoma City Thunder schedule for the 2024-25 NBA regular season?

There is a lot of ground to cover when it comes to breaking down the Thunder’s schedule this season.

What do we need to know about the Oklahoma City Thunder schedule for the coming 2024-25 NBA regular season? What are the important dates of the season, like the 2025 trade deadline? When is opening night, and the last game of the regular season (and, of course, who will they play on them)?

Who do the Thunder play on Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Day? Which group are they in (and who will they play) in the 2024-25 NBA Cup games this year? What are the home stands and road trips OKC fans ought to be keeping an eye out for? How many national TV games and back-to-backs are there?

There is a lot of ground to cover when it comes to breaking down the Thunder’s schedule this season, but the folks behind the “Down to Dunk – and OKC Thunder Podcast” show have done their best on our behalf. Check it out for yourself in the clip embedded below.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

OKC Thunder will face tough start to 2024-25 regular season

OKC Thunder will face tough start to 2024-25 regular season.

Right out of the gates, the Oklahoma City Thunder won’t have much room for error to start the 2024-24 regular season.

The Thunder unveiled their 82-game slate recently as the calendar creeps closer to starting training camp in less than two months. OKC hopes to repeat its success from last season as the first seed.

To achieve that goal, they will need to get off to a hot start and fight through any possible adjustment periods needed for Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso — who will be two of the top-six rotation players.

The Thunder have the fifth-hardest strength of schedule in October and November among last year’s playoff squads. OKC’s early opponents had a combined .512 win percentage last season.

A slow start might dampen the Thunder’s ambitions of the first seed. Hovering around .500 could put them behind the marathon as 57 wins was barely enough to get the first seed last season.

Overall, it’s a daunting schedule for the Thunder, who are also tied for the most back-to-backs at 16 this year, an increase from last season’s 14 total.

Regardless of seeding, what’s more important is how strong the Thunder look at the end of the season and the health of their top pieces. Those two variables are more important than chasing a few spots in the standings.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

OKC Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves to face off 3 times in 4-game stretch

OKC Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves to face off 3 times in 4-game stretch.

The Oklahoma City Thunder revealed their 2024-25 regular season schedule. This means that it’s time to examine how the slate is laid out during the 82-game grind.

After a first-seed finish last season, the Thunder hope to repeat that accomplishment this upcoming campaign. They enter the year as title favorites after a productive offseason.

One important stretch during the Thunder’s season will happen in February 2025. They will play the Minnesota Timberwolves three out of four games from Feb. 13-24.

All three contests will be on national television. The Thunder travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves via TNT on Feb. 13. It is OKC’s final contest before the 2025 All-Star break.

After the break, the Thunder will travel to face the Utah Jazz on Feb. 21. It’s a nice one-game break before they battle the Timberwolves in a road-and-home back-to-back from Feb. 23-24.

The first contest will be on ESPN with an 8:30 p.m. CT tip. A back-to-back that features travel is already grueling as is. Toss in the layer that includes the late tip on the first night and standard tip on the second night — 7 p.m. CT — then it complicates important games.

The Thunder and Timberwolves were two of the best teams in the Western Conference last year. Their seeding wasn’t finalized until the last day of the regular season. Expect a similar finish this upcoming season between the squads.

Tiebreakers could prove vital once more. That’s why this three-in-four-games stretch will be crucial for seeding aspirations for both the Thunder and Timberwolves.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mark those calendars! All the key dates for the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2024-25 season

All the major tilts of the coming season are now known to fans and analysts of the team, making planning your must-see games for the year possible.

NBA schedule release day for the league’s 2024-25 season has finally arrived, and with it, we can begin to see the contours of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s looming regular season campaign. All the major tilts of the coming season are now known to fans and analysts of the team, making planning your must-see games for the year possible.

From opening night to the last game of the year, there are plenty of games in-between that ought to especially warrant a watch as well. The big tent pole games on Christmas Day and Martin Luther King day are of course required viewing for all Thunder fans, and matchups with Western Conference rivals abound — especially vs. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

The folks behind the team-produced “TBU” podcast have put together something of a schedule primer for the 2024-25 season on one of their most recent episodes.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say about the OKC season ahead.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Unique 2024-25 back-to-back against Nuggets could determine seeding for OKC Thunder

Unique 2024-25 back-to-back against Nuggets could determine seeding for OKC Thunder.

If the Oklahoma City Thunder hope to repeat as the top seed, they will likely need to win tiebreakers if they are required. After all, that’s how the Thunder ultimately won the first seed on the last day of the regular season last year.

With that in mind, a critical back-to-back late in the 2024-25 season could prove vital for OKC’s ambitions of a first seed. The Thunder have 16 back-to-backs this season — tied for the most among playoff squads.

A unique set involves a home back-to-back against the Denver Nuggets. OKC will host them on Mar. 9-10. It’s its only back-to-back where it plays the same team twice in a row.

Considering how late this is into the season, there’s a strong chance that both fanbases will circle these contests on their calendar. As they get closer to the end of the season, standings will matter more.

To add to the uniqueness, the first contest will be held at 12 p.m. CT on ABC. The second will be a standard 7 p.m. CT tip. This means that both squads will get a semi-off day between games. This could benefit either or both sides depending on where the teams stand on the injury front.

Expect the Thunder and Nuggets to be two of the top teams in the Western Conference again this season. They roster MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

A potential playoff series could be decided by homecourt — especially considering Denver’s altitude advantage. This back-to-back could be under a microscope and have massive consequences at the end of the year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Dates for when Josh Giddey, Bulls will clash with OKC Thunder during 2024-25 season revealed

Dates for when Josh Giddey, Bulls will clash with OKC Thunder during 2024-25 season revealed.

After three seasons, Josh Giddey waved goodbye to OKC earlier this offseason. The 21-year-old declined the chance to come off the bench next season to return to a primary ball-handler role.

The Oklahoma City Thunder shipped Giddey to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso. It’s a move that made sense for both parties after the former had his worst season yet in OKC last year.

The Thunder announced their 2024-25 regular season schedule and their two contests against the Bulls are spread across the seven-month campaign. They will travel to Chicago early in the season on Oct. 26 to face Giddey.

Giddey’s return to OKC won’t happen until deep into the regular season. The Bulls will face the Thunder at Paycom Center on Mar. 31.

This will mark his return since being traded. Expect Giddey to receive loud applause. Even though he asked out and didn’t get a second contract with the Thunder, the 21-year-old was a clear fan favorite during his time in OKC.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NBA puts Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama in national spotlight during 2024-25 season

NBA puts Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama in national spotlight during 2024-25 season.

Like the previous iteration, expect an old rivalry to be renewed here in the coming years.

After examining the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2024-25 regular season schedule, it’s painfully obvious how badly the NBA wants the San Antonio Spurs to be their primary foe.

Like Batman to Joker, the league has pushed Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama to the national spotlight all three times they match up this season.

It makes all the sense in the world for the league to push this too. Holmgren and Wembayama were top-two picks in their respective drafts and finished as the top-two last season in Rookie of the Year.

Both seven-footers have similar playstyles as elite paint protectors who can handle and shoot the ball with extraordinary ability. They headline the next generation of versatile centers that will dominate the league for the foreseeable future.

While the Thunder are a title contender and Spurs are in a rebuild, expect the latter to catch up solely from Wembanyama’s ascension as one of the league’s best players.

Playoff clashes feel inevitable between these two titans. But that likely won’t happen next season. Until then, the regular season must be enough to quench the thirst of fans who look forward to this rivalry.

The Thunder and Spurs face off three times next season. The first matchup will be early in the season and broadcast via ESPN on Oct. 30. OKC will be the host.

The second matchup features some stakes as it will be an NBA Cup group game. The Thunder travel to San Antonio on Nov. 19 and will be shown on TNT.

The final contest will be late in the season on Mar. 2. OKC once more travels to the Spurs to take it on in front of an ESPN audience.

Even if neither player publicly acknowledges it, there is a simmering rivalry brewing between Holmgren and Wembanyama. Expect that to be the case for the rest of their careers as they battle it out in the Western Conference.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]