The San Antonio Spurs achieved their third consecutive win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in two weeks, marking a significant victory in the NBA season, while other Christmas Day games featured dramatic comebacks and key performances, including the Knicks' comeback win over the Cavaliers and the Warriors' victory over the Mavericks.
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 on December 25, 2025, marking their third win over the defending NBA champions in two weeks, with key performances from De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, while the Thunder suffered their second home loss of the season.
Steve Kerr believes the Oklahoma City Thunder have the infrastructure, talent, and stability to become the next NBA dynasty, following their dominant start to the 2025-26 season and recent success, positioning them as potential successors to the Warriors.
The NBA season started with Oklahoma City Thunder celebrating their championship with a double-overtime win against the Rockets, who acquired Kevin Durant, and the Warriors defeating the Lakers in Los Angeles without LeBron James, highlighting an exciting season opener.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won a double overtime game against the Houston Rockets, featuring a banner unveiling and a dramatic finish with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander securing the win, while the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in their season opener, with notable performances from Stephen Curry and Luka Dončić, and LeBron James sidelined due to injury.
The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated their season opener with a ring ceremony and banner unveiling, then narrowly defeated Kevin Durant's Houston Rockets 125-124 in double overtime, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring the winning free throws in the final seconds. Durant, booed throughout, scored 23 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points. The game featured a rare double overtime and a controversial no-call on a timeout attempt by Durant.
The Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly defeated the Houston Rockets 125-124 in a double overtime season opener, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring the winning free throws. Durant, returning to OKC, was booed and fouled out late in the game. Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell contributed significantly for the Thunder, while Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with a career-high 39 points. The game featured intense moments, including a missed timeout call and a dramatic finish.
The 2025-26 NBA season begins with a doubleheader featuring the Rockets vs. Thunder and Lakers vs. Warriors. The Rockets and Thunder played an intense game that went to overtime, with key performances from Sengun and Gilgeous-Alexander. LeBron James is out for the Lakers' opener, and Kevin Durant makes his debut for the Rockets. The season promises exciting matchups and competitive play.
Early predictions for the 2026 NBA Finals suggest the Oklahoma City Thunder may defend their title against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with other contenders like the Nuggets and Knicks also in the mix, highlighting a competitive and unpredictable league.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to end the NBA's seven-year championship drought, leading the Week 1 Power Rankings with a strong roster and high expectations, while other top teams like the Celtics, Nuggets, and Cavaliers are also highlighted for their potential and key storylines for the season start.
The article ranks seven NBA teams with potential to win the 2026 championship, highlighting the Oklahoma City Thunder as the top contender due to their strong roster and future assets, while also discussing other teams like the Nuggets, Rockets, and Knicks as serious contenders in a highly competitive and parity-rich league.
The NBA Christmas Day schedule features five games, primarily showcasing Western Conference teams, with notable matchups including Thunder vs. Spurs, Rockets vs. Lakers, and Mavericks vs. Warriors, marking a mix of veteran stars and emerging talents, and notably excluding the Mavericks-Lakers game which is expected to occur later in November.
The article ranks the top six moves of the NBA offseason, highlighting the Clippers' depth additions, Thunder's extension strategy, Rockets' acquisition of Kevin Durant, Nuggets' trade for Cam Johnson, Magic's trade for Desmond Bane, and Hawks' draft trade with the Pelicans, emphasizing strategic team improvements and future potential.
The LA Clippers signed Chris Paul to a one-year deal, which could give the Thunder an advantage in future matchups due to their familiarity with his playing style and recent success against him, despite Paul's move to a title contender.
The Oklahoma City Thunder re-signed Branden Carlson on a two-way deal, and he has impressively dominated in Summer League, showcasing his potential as a full-time NBA rotation player, which highlights the team's savvy offseason moves.