The reigning NBA champs kicked off the 2025-26 campaign in style on Tuesday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets 126-125 in double overtime. After receiving their rings and raising the championship banner, the Thunder put on quite a show for the fans in a memorable season opener. Now the Thunder travels to Indiana for their first road game of the season as they take on the Pacers in a Finals rematch.
The Pacers look a little different from just a couple of months ago. Tyrese Halliburton will miss quite a bit of time after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and big man Myles Turner signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. Without their two best players from the Finals, Indiana isn’t likely to have the same type of success that they had a season ago. Still, tonight’s matchup should offer plenty of drama and excitement.
The Thunder has some injury issues of their own at the moment as Alex Caruso will miss time due to concussion protocol, and Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace are both questionable to play with some minor injuries. Jalen Williams still has some time before he returns to the floor, as well. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did what was necessary to lead OKC to a win on Tuesday, but it took some time as he got off to one of his slowest starts in recent history. The Pacers can’t operate at the same defensive level as the Rockets, however, so it would do OKC well if SGA was more assertive early in this contest.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 6:30 PM CT
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Television: ESPN
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Indiana Pacers Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Cason Wallace
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Pacers
- PG: Andrew Nembhard
- SG: Bennedict Mathurin
- SF: Aaron Nesmith
- PF: Pascal Siakam
- C: Isaiah Jackson
Injury Report
Thunder
- Alex Caruso (concussion protocol) is OUT.
- Luguentz Dort (sprained left ankle) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Isaiah Joe (left knee contusion) is OUT.
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Cason Wallace (sprained left knee) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (right wrist surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Kenrich Williams (left knee surgical recovery) is OUT.
Pacers
- Tyrese Haliburton (torn right Achilles tendon) is OUT.
- Quenton Jackson (strained right hamstring) is OUT.
- Kam Jones (lower back stress reaction) is OUT.
- T.J. McConnell (strained left hamstring) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 15-16 against the Pacers in the regular season (9-5 at home, 6-11 on the road) and 3-3 in the Playoffs (2-1 at home, 1-2 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Pacers 4 times, lost it 6 times, and tied 7 times.
- The Thunder won the season series 2-0 this season (1-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder defeated the Pacers 4-3 in the NBA Finals last June (3-1 at home, 1-2 on the road).