Tip-Off: 7 PM CDT
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off the season with a narrow loss to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, and while the outcome was not what was hoped for, it did offer some hope for the rest of the season.
The Jazz are considered one of several contenders in the Western Conference, while the Thunder is not expected to even sniff the playoffs. With the way they played on Wednesday, Oklahoma City may be better than expected.
Tonight, the Thunder hosts the Washington Wizards, who are preparing for what could be a tough season of their own. John Wall injured his right achilles last season, and he won’t be back until at least February, which puts the burden of leading the team solely on Bradley Beal’s shoulders.
Oklahoma City has a tough schedule for these first couple of weeks, and tonight offers up one of the better chances at a win. The Thunder can’t afford to let one like this get away, so they need to take care of business and leave the home crowd with a victory.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SF: Terrance Ferguson
- PF: Danilo Gallinari
- C: Steven Adams
Wizards
- PG: Ish Smith
- SG: Bradley Beal
- SF: Isaac Bonga
- PF: Rui Hachimura
- C: Thomas Bryant
Injuries
Thunder
- Andre Roberson (return to play management) is OUT.
Wizards
- Troy Brown Jr. (calf) is OUT.
- Ian Mahinmi (achilles) is OUT.
- Jordan McRae (right ring finger fracture) is OUT.
- C.J. Miles (foot) is OUT.
- Isaiah Thomas (thumb) is QUESTIONABLE.
- John Wall (right achilles injury) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 14-7 against the Wizards (9-1 at home, 5-6 on the road).
- The Thunder has won the season series with the Wizards 4 times, lost it once, and tied 6 times.
- The Thunder split the season series last year 1-1 (0-1 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 7 of the last 10 games against the Wizards, but for the first time in franchise history, the Thunder lost to the Wizards in OKC last season.
Game Notes
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