On Thursday, the Thunder wrapped up preseason and turned the page toward their October 20 opener against the Spurs. The final exhibition results won’t stick to the record books in any meaningful way - Oklahoma City finished 1-4 - but the game against Houston still offered a useful snapshot of where things may be headed in the West.
The Rockets looked like a team far more dangerous than their quiet offseason suggests.
Even with starters not logging the full night, Houston controlled the flow early and had OKC chasing from behind before the Thunder shut things down. Oklahoma City was minus-24 with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor, while Houston’s first unit brought the kind of sharp, pressure-heavy approach that can tilt a game fast. They forced turnovers, worked the offensive glass, and did plenty of damage despite not exactly catching fire as shooters.
That matters because the Rockets have largely been treated like a fading storyline this summer. Their offseason barely made a ripple, and plenty of people seemed comfortable penciling them out as a serious Western Conference factor. But the league’s own general manager polling still placed Houston fifth in the conference, and that doesn’t come from nowhere.
Last season, the Rockets were right there in the mix with Denver and the Lakers in the standings. Now they get back one of the most important pieces they were missing: Fred VanVleet.
The point guard returns after missing all of last season with a torn ACL, and Thursday offered a reminder of why that’s such a big deal. VanVleet was the Rockets’ best performer by plus-minus at plus-15, and his stat line told the story of a player who can steady everything around him: eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, a block, and not a single turnover.
That kind of control changes the conversation. Houston already had size, defense, and enough talent to hang around the top of the West. Now it has a real organizer in the backcourt again.
And that’s where the danger for Oklahoma City comes in. The Spurs are not the only heavy lift staring the Thunder in the face. If VanVleet settles in and runs the offense the way Houston needs him to, the Rockets can absolutely push themselves into the postseason mix.
With defenders like Amen Thompson and shooters like Kevin Durant and Tari Easton, Houston has the kind of roster that can make noise quickly. What looked like a sleepy offseason may end up masking a team that’s much harder to dismiss.
For the Thunder, that means the path through the West could be more crowded than it seemed a week ago.
In Other News...
Thunder Opener Could Expose One Early Problem For A Team With Title Hopes
The Thunder open the season against San Antonio in a matchup that already feels like a useful measuring stick, not just for where Oklahoma City stands on the road to its title hopes, but for how quickly a few preseason issues carry over into real games. The preseason offered glimpses of what the roster can be, including the early look at rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, but it also left enough uncertainty around the teams rhythm to make this opener worth watching closely.
Oklahoma Citys focus now shifts to cleaner execution and the kind of offensive sharpness that can separate a contender from a team still ironing out details in October. A matchup with the Spurs should help answer some of those questions, especially with young players being thrown into a high-leverage setting right away and the first game offering a clearer read on how ready the Thunder are to handle the seasons early pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Chet Holmgren Brings One Big Thunder Question Into Opening Night
The Thunder are set to open the 2026-27 regular season against the Spurs, with Chet Holmgren again positioned as one of the central figures in Oklahoma Citys plans. After last seasons run to the Western Conference Finals, teammates and coaches have kept pointing to his work ethic and steady development as reasons the group remains confident in what he brings, especially as the team gets ready for another high-expectation start.
Holmgrens presence remains the big question hanging over opening night, though, after the All-Star was sidelined during the preseason. He has been working back from a right quad contusion, and while the Thunder still expect him to play a key role once hes ready, Mark Daigneault has not confirmed whether Holmgren will be available when the season begins against San Antonio. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Loved What Ajay Mitchell Just Changed For OKC
Ajay Mitchell gave the Thunder a jolt in their four-game playoff sweep of the Lakers, and Jalen Williams had a front-row seat to it even if he could not suit up. While Williams was sidelined by a hamstring injury, Mitchells rise in the series added another layer to Oklahoma Citys depth, with the rookie making his presence felt on both ends and giving the matchup a different look than many expected.
Mitchells work against Austin Reaves drew particular attention, since his defensive impact helped tilt the series in Oklahoma Citys favor. For Williams, who watched the whole thing unfold from the sideline, the takeaway was bigger than one hot stretch in the postseason. The Thunder may have found another player who can change a series, and if Williams is healthy going forward, that kind of added versatility could matter even more. [Read more 🡒]