The Oklahoma City Thunder get right back to work Monday night, hosting the Phoenix Suns in the first meeting between the teams in the 2026-27 regular season.
OKC enters at 3-0 and is doing it on the second night of a home back-to-back after a 108-101 win over the LA Clippers on Sunday. That victory came with a major scare: Jalen Williams suffered a gruesome-looking leg injury and had to be stretchered out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the offense with 34 points and six rebounds.
Phoenix comes in at 1-1 after outlasting the Golden State Warriors 131-122 on Saturday. Devin Booker was the headliner there, pouring in 43 points and handing out seven assists, while Jalen Green added 12 points.
The game will air on Thunder+ and KSBI.
On the injury report, the Thunder have not yet submitted updates. For the Suns, Oso Ighodaro is doubtful with a right oblique strain, Mark Williams is out after shoulder surgery, and Drew Timme is out on a G League two-way.
Oklahoma City’s projected starting five features Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, Kenrich Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Phoenix is expected to start Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges and Khaman Maluach.
The matchup projects as a tight one, with the Thunder listed at 106 and the Suns at 101 in the prediction, and the over/under set at 218.5. Oklahoma City’s next games are Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Mavericks, Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Rockets and Monday, Nov. 2 at the Cavaliers.
In Other News...
Aday Mara Is Already Making OKC's Draft Choice Look Smarter
Aday Maras first stretch in Oklahoma City has given the Thunder plenty to like. The 12th overall pick has looked comfortable through his first three games, and the early returns have centered on the parts of his game that usually translate quickest: defense, awareness, and a feel for fitting into what a team already wants to do.
For a franchise that has earned a reputation for being patient and selective on draft night, Maras start only adds to the sense that the pick made sense. Around the rest of the Michigan pipeline, the early reviews have been more uneven, which only makes Maras steady opening look more encouraging for the Thunder as they continue to see how he settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Ajay Mitchell Is Giving The Thunder A Reason To Feel Better
Ajay Mitchell has given the Thunder a small but meaningful early-season lift, and the progression has been obvious through Oklahoma Citys 3-0 start. He opened with 4 points in the first game, then followed with 12 points while making an impact on defense in the next outing, giving the staff something to build on from a young guard who is still carving out his place in the rotation.
Mitchell took another step in the third game, finishing with 18 points and contributing across the board as Oklahoma City kept rolling. With Jalen Williams sidelined and his return still uncertain, the Thunder need players like Mitchell to keep growing around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, and so far he is giving them a reason to feel better about the depth behind the top of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Jared McCain Suddenly Faces Real Pressure For The Thunder
Jared McCain arrived in Oklahoma City as part of a draft compensation deal that did not cost the Thunder any players, the kind of low-risk move that can look like a tidy front-office win if the development follows the script. Now the script has changed. With Jalen Williams injured early in the 2026-27 season and the roster thinner on the wing after recent trades, McCain is suddenly being asked to do more than just fit in.
His minutes and responsibility are expected to climb as the Thunder try to keep the offense on track without one of its key creators. For Oklahoma City, the stakes are bigger than one players workload. If McCain handles the expanded role, the deal starts to look like a steal and the Thunder have a better chance of staying effective through Williams absence. If he does not, the margin for error gets a lot smaller. [Read more 🡒]