Thunder will face Nuggets in first NBC's 'Sunday Night Basketball' broadcast
The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter as a popular title favorite. Fresh off one of the greatest seasons ever, they're running it back with mostly the same roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were all gifted contract extensions this summer to keep them together for the long haul.
Next season will also mark the return of NBC as a broadcast partner. The NBA left TNT to return to the familiar company. The Thunder will be part of its first game as they will kick off the year on Opening Night with a pregame ceremony to unveil their banner and hand out rings against the Houston Rockets.
To kick off the new NBA on NBC era, the channel will start a "Sunday Night Basketball" tradition after the Super Bowl. Similar to "Sunday Night Football," the primetime games will be treated with prestige.
While the weekly Sunday night games won't start until after Super Bowl LX, NBC will debut it during the NFL's bye week before the championship game. The Thunder will be part of the broadcast's double-header when they travel to face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Feb. 1.
It's a good matchup to bet on if you're the NBA schedule-makers and NBC suits. The Thunder and Nuggets always guarantee classics. They had arguably the most entertaining playoff series this past year with a full seven-game slate headlined by Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
As the Thunder start their championship reign, the NBA has gone all out to advertise them. They're tied for the most national television games in the 2025-26 regular season. The league fully trusts the small-market team to bring in numbers. Don't expect that to change anytime soon.
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