OKC Thunder to enjoy fewest amount of back-to-back games in NBA for 2025-26 season
It shouldn't be a surprise, but the Oklahoma City Thunder have taken the national spotlight. The NBA champions will become a household name, as they're tied with the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks for most national television games at 34.
After being left out of both, the Thunder will be featured for Opening Night and Christmas. They will host the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, respectively, for the two big regular-season dates. They also received another batch of good news when combing through their 2025-26 schedule.
The Thunder are tied for the fewest back-to-backs this upcoming season at 13. The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves are the other teams with the same number.
The Thunder's 13 back-to-backs consist of three home/home, five road/road, two home/road and three road/home trips. This gives them a chance to play their rotation more regularly, instead of being cautious by resting some of the older members of their roster in back-to-back games.
Of course, that puts the Thunder at a huge rest advantage. Back-to-backs can be killer for teams, especially when they involve travel. The 2024-25 squad was an exception to the rule with a historic 68-14 record, but there's no question this is a plus for the NBA champions.
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