Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are both expected to suit up tonight, thankfully, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs kick off their 2026-27 NBA regular seasons with a massive rematch. This isn’t just any opener, either; these two Western Conference powerhouses are running it back after San Antonio knocked OKC out in last season’s Western Conference Finals before advancing to the NBA Finals. Yeah, the stakes are high, even on opening night.
The Showdown Everyone’s Been Waiting For
All eyes will be on Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander as they hit the court, and honestly, we were all holding our breath a little on their availability. Reports were swirling about their status, making it a major storyline right up until tipoff. Good news for everyone though, Wembanyama is on track to play for the Spurs, and SGA isn’t even listed with an injury designation for the Thunder. Wembanyama is the guy leading San Antonio’s title push, especially after a huge postseason performance, and SGA is absolutely the offensive heartbeat for Oklahoma City. This game is a serious early test for both squads, who are favored to be battling it out at the top of the Western Conference all season long. You love to see the stars healthy and ready to go from day one.
Early Season Injury Bug Already Biting Both Teams
While the main attractions are good to go, neither team is at 100% heading into this highly anticipated opener. The Spurs will be without forward Tobias Harris, who’s working his way back from a left calf strain. Coach Mitch Johnson confirmed Harris won’t make his debut tonight, needing more on-court conditioning before he can join the squad. The good news for Spurs fans is that Coach Johnson confirmed the rest of the team is in good health, outside of Harris. The Thunder aren’t so lucky on the depth front; they’re already dealing with a few significant absences. Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber are both sidelined following back surgeries, and Otega Oweh is out of commission after tearing his Achilles. It’s a tough break to be short-handed right out of the gate when you’re facing a team that bounced you from the playoffs last year.
Tonight’s game tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. You can catch all the action live on NBC and Peacock. It’s an early statement game for both sides, setting the tone for their bids to dominate the Western Conference this season. You absolutely don’t want to miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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