A few weeks into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026-27 NBA season, the OKC Blue finally got rolling too - and the early results have been mixed.
The Blue opened their year on Nov. 6 with a 93-79 loss to the Mexico City Capitanes, then dropped another one two days later, falling 97-89 to the Osceola Magic. Even with the two defeats, there have been a few encouraging individual performances to track, including from Nikola Topic.
Topic appeared in OKC’s second game of the season against Osceola and put together a tidy line: 10 points, three assists, a rebound, four steals and two turnovers. He shot 4-of-8 from the field, missed both of his 3-point attempts and went 1-of-1 at the line.
The former lottery pick still hasn’t played for the Thunder this season after dealing with a back injury to open the year, but his G League stint could put him on the doorstep of a return. Once the 21-year-old guard gets back in rythym, he could work his way into the Thunder rotation as the team navigates multiple injuries. Oklahoma City also recently declined Topic’s rookie-scale contract option.
Pritchard was one of the Blue’s steadier pieces in the opener against Mexico City. He finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, three steals, a block and four turnovers, going 5-of-10 from the floor, 0-of-1 from 3-point range and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Only two OKC players hit at least half their shots in that game, and Jaehshon Thomas was one of them at 1-of-2.
Pritchard, a second-year guard who played at Webster High School in Tulsa before moving on to the Golden Hurricane and then Central Michigan, had a strong rookie season for the Blue in 2025-26 and looks like he can still be a useful piece for the development squad this year.
Smith has been one of the more productive scorers so far. After putting up 15 points in the opener, he followed that with a team-high 19 against Osceola, adding two assists, two rebounds, three steals and three turnovers. The 2018 first-round pick shot 7-of-12 from the field, 1-of-4 from deep and 2-of-2 from the line.
Tilly also bounced back nicely in the second game. The undrafted rookie scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while adding two assists, two blocks, a steal and five turnovers. He was perfect from the field at 4-of-4 and also went 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
After a quiet debut from the Ohio State and Santa Clara product, Tilly delivered a solid second start for the Blue and has room to keep building as his rookie season goes on.
In Other News...
Isaiah Hartenstein Is Becoming Vital To OKC In An Unexpected Way
The Thunders lopsided win over Washington was another reminder that Oklahoma City can lean on Isaiah Hartenstein in ways that go well beyond scoring. With Chet Holmgren out, Hartenstein has settled into a bigger role, and his value has shown up in the dirty work that tends to swing games for a team built on pace, length and pressure. He was active on the glass, moved the ball cleanly and helped anchor the defense in a game the Thunder controlled from start to finish.
Hartensteins recent stretch has made him a more important piece than many expected when he arrived, especially because his impact is showing up in so many different areas. He has been giving Oklahoma City reliable rebounding and extra playmaking from the center spot, which helps keep the offense flowing even when the shot volume is spread around. For a team with bigger ambitions, that kind of steady production is exactly the sort of thing that can matter later, even if it does not always jump off the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Thunders Injury Response Is Creating An Unfamiliar Roster Problem
In the wake of injuries to key players, the Thunder have been forced into a flurry of roster moves that looks nothing like their usual patient approach to building out the back end of the roster. Oklahoma City has waived second-round pick Otega Oweh, rescinded a contract offer to Ochai Agbaji, signed and then waived Dalen Terry, and brought in Nique Clifford in a trade, all in an effort to keep the roster functional while the injury situation sorts itself out.
What makes this stretch unusual is that the Thunder have had to work around league rules while doing it, since they could not just clear space by moving a two-way player. For a team that typically prizes flexibility and long-term planning, the sequence has created an unfamiliar kind of roster squeeze, one that has forced the front office to make quick decisions and accept short-term disruption in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Found A Smart Way To Add Depth At The Right Time
The Thunder quietly found a way to add another layer of depth without having to pay a premium in the draft capital that usually comes with it. Oklahoma City landed Nique Clifford from Sacramento for two second-round picks, a move that fits the front offices habit of staying aggressive while still protecting its long-term flexibility.
What makes the deal especially notable is how cleanly it fit into the teams larger roster-building plan. Oklahoma City still has more trade exceptions and draft picks to work with, so this was not a one-off swing but another example of how the Thunder keep creating room for future moves while addressing the present roster. [Read more 🡒]