San Antonio Spurs – Oklahoma City Thunder prediction for the October 21, 2026 game
NBA
On October 21, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder will play their opening game of the NBA regular season. Here is my prediction for the upcoming battle.
San Antonio Spurs
Last season, the Spurs showed everyone that they are capable of competing for the championship, despite many people remaining skeptical about them. The team reached the playoff finals, where they fell to the New York Knicks 1-4 in the series. However, the matchup was far from one-sided, with a fierce battle unfolding in virtually every game.
During the offseason, the club made it clear that it would build its team around its biggest star, Victor Wembanyama. The Frenchman signed a five-year, $252.3 million contract, while the signing of experienced forward Tobias Harris was the standout addition. Olynyk, Biyombo and Waters left the team, while Sochan was also waived. In the draft, the Spurs selected center Tarris Reed and forward Jaden Quantance. I expect another strong season from San Antonio, although two players will miss this game through injury.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder looked strong last season, finishing first in the Western Conference during the regular season after winning 78% of their games. The team eventually reached the conference finals, where they lost to San Antonio in seven games.
During the offseason, the club tried to move on from expensive contracts and replace them with cheaper options. Oklahoma retained its core, but the team will have less flexibility. Dort, Wiggins and Joe departed, while draft picks Ajay Mara and Bennett Stirtz joined the roster. I think it will not be easy for the champions from two seasons ago to put together another consistently strong regular season. Much will depend on how the young players perform.
Of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be expected to carry the team after winning MVP honors in each of the last two seasons. Three players will miss the upcoming game.
Head-to-head meetings
The teams met as many as 12 times last season, with the most important games coming in the playoffs, where San Antonio won the conference finals series 4-3.
Prediction
These teams were at the top of the West last season, so an intriguing battle between two ambitious squads is in store. There is no clear favorite here, but I believe Oklahoma City has become slightly weaker compared with last season. I’m willing to back a straight-up home win.
