The Oklahoma City Thunder have one final opportunity to fine-tune their rotation before the games begin counting. Tonight’s preseason finale against the Houston Rockets offers a chance to evaluate lineup combinations, assess the team’s developing bench, and determine which players have made the strongest cases for meaningful minutes.
There is, however, a significant question heading into the matchup: How much of Oklahoma City’s established rotation will actually take the floor? With the regular season approaching and several players carrying uncertain statuses, the projected lineups are worth watching—but they are not official confirmations.
The Thunder and Rockets meet tonight at Toyota Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Central. The game is scheduled to air on NBA TV and Thunder+ in the Oklahoma City market.
Expected Starting Lineups
These are the projected starting groups if the teams elect to use their established first units. Both lineups remain subject to late changes, rest decisions, and final availability updates.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Cason Wallace
- SF: Jalen Williams
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Houston Rockets
- PG: Fred VanVleet
- SG: Amen Thompson
- SF: Kevin Durant
- PF: Jabari Smith Jr.
- C: Alperen Şengün
Chet Holmgren’s status deserves particular attention after he missed earlier preseason action with a quad contusion. Houston also has questions surrounding the availability of several veteran players, including VanVleet and Durant.
Storyline No. 1: Can the Twin Towers Combination Work?
If Holmgren and Hartenstein share the floor, their pairing will be one of the most intriguing things to watch.
The two centers offer different strengths. Holmgren brings length, mobility, and the ability to protect the rim while operating away from the basket offensively. Hartenstein provides physicality, screening, rebounding, and an interior presence that can help Oklahoma City compete against bigger frontcourts.
The question is how those skills complement one another against Houston.
Şengün presents a demanding matchup because of his post scoring, passing, and ability to create opportunities for teammates. If Durant is available, Houston can also use his scoring threat to stretch defensive assignments and punish mismatches.
For Oklahoma City, the challenge is not simply putting two big men on the floor. It is maintaining the spacing, defensive rotations, and transition speed that make the Thunder effective.
If Holmgren continues to be unavailable, the game becomes a different kind of evaluation. Either way, the frontcourt situation is worth monitoring as Oklahoma City approaches opening night.
Storyline No. 2: Jared McCain Is Building a Case for a Bigger Role
The young guard is entering his third NBA season, and his recent performance against Indiana gave Oklahoma City another reason to consider how his scoring could fit into the rotation.
In Tuesday’s 114–112 overtime win over the Pacers, McCain scored 20 points and knocked down six of his 12 three-point attempts in fewer than 19 minutes. His perimeter shooting helped fuel the comeback, and it highlighted the value of having another guard capable of generating offense quickly.
The next step is consistency.
McCain does not need to dominate the ball to make an impact. He can provide value by relocating without the ball, finding open space around Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, and converting the opportunities created by Oklahoma City’s primary playmakers.
The bigger question is where he fits when the rotation tightens. Can McCain become a dependable source of bench scoring without sacrificing defensive reliability? And can he maintain his shooting impact when opposing defenses have more time to prepare for him?
Thursday offers another opportunity to evaluate those questions before the regular season begins.
Storyline No. 3: Aday Mara and the Development of the Second Unit
Mara represents a different kind of evaluation for Oklahoma City.
At 7-foot-3, the young center brings size and rim-protection potential that can change the way opponents approach the basket. His development could be particularly important as the Thunder look for dependable frontcourt minutes beyond their established rotation.
Against Houston, Mara’s most revealing possessions may come when he is forced to defend physical drives, protect the rim without fouling, and finish defensive possessions with rebounds.
Offensively, the Thunder will want to see him screen effectively, move decisively around the basket, and make the simple reads that keep the offense flowing. His role does not need to be complicated for him to influence a game.
The key is whether his size can translate into reliable minutes against NBA-level physicality and pace.
Mara is a true rookie, unlike McCain, and his development should be viewed through that lens. Oklahoma City needs to learn what responsibilities he can handle now and which areas still require time and repetition.
Storyline No. 4: Replacing Otega Oweh’s Lost Minutes
The Thunder received difficult news after Tuesday’s win: rookie guard Otega Oweh suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon and will miss the entire 2026–27 season. The team confirmed that he underwent a procedure yesterday, October 14.
That injury changes the competition for backcourt depth.
Oweh offered a combination of athleticism, defensive activity, and downhill attacking ability. Oklahoma City cannot simply replace those traits with one player, but the coaching staff will have to assess which available guards can absorb additional opportunities.
McCain’s shooting gives him a clear offensive selling point. Bennett Stirtz and Josh Dix are among the younger players who can use preseason minutes to strengthen their cases, while established reserves will be expected to provide stability.
The important distinction is that an open roster opportunity does not automatically guarantee a larger role for any one player. The staff still has to determine which combinations work defensively, which players complement the primary creators, and who can execute consistently.
With the regular season approaching, those decisions carry more weight than the result of a single exhibition.
Storyline No. 5: Oklahoma City’s Perimeter Defense Faces a Different Test
Houston can challenge a defense in several ways. VanVleet, if he plays, can organize the offense and create opportunities out of ball screens. Thompson brings athleticism and pressure on the rim. Durant can score over defenders, exploit mismatches, and force opponents to make difficult choices.
That variety makes the Rockets a useful opponent for evaluating Oklahoma City’s defensive communication.
Wallace and Alex Caruso are two players to watch in perimeter assignments. Their ability to pressure the ball, navigate screens, and recover without compromising the defense behind them could help determine how effectively Oklahoma City disrupts Houston’s offense.
The Thunder also need to avoid turning aggressive defense into easy scoring opportunities for the opposition. Overhelping against a driver can leave shooters open, while a missed rotation can create a favorable matchup for a player such as Durant.
The goal is not to win every individual matchup. It is to force Houston into difficult decisions, contest shots without unnecessary fouling, and finish possessions with rebounds.
The Bigger Picture: The Final Rehearsal
Preseason finales are rarely reliable previews of regular-season minutes. Coaches may limit established players, experiment with combinations, or give extended opportunities to players competing for the final spots in the rotation.
That uncertainty makes the Thunder’s bench particularly interesting. McCain is trying to turn his scoring flashes into a consistent role. Mara is working to translate his size and defensive potential into dependable minutes. Stirtz, Dix, and other reserves have their own opportunities to demonstrate that they can help the team when called upon.
Oklahoma City does not need to answer every question on Thursday night. It does need to leave the preseason with a clearer picture of which combinations are ready, which players need more development, and where the rotation still needs work.
The final score will matter less than the decisions the Thunder make after the final buzzer.