If you’re trying to figure out when the Oklahoma City Thunder take the floor next, you’ve probably noticed the schedule is a bit of a moving target lately. Between the weird afternoon holiday tips and those late-night West Coast swings, keeping track of the OKC Thunder schedule is basically a part-time job.
Right now, the Thunder are coming off a massive emotional high. On Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, they finally took down the San Antonio Spurs 119-98 at the Paycom Center. It was a huge deal because, honestly, the Spurs had their number earlier this season, beating them three times in a row. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went off for 34 points, and the energy in Loud City was reportedly electric.
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But that game is over. If you're asking "what time does OKC play" right now, you're looking at the road ahead.
The Next Game: OKC Thunder vs. Houston Rockets
The Thunder don't have much time to celebrate that Spurs win. They are heading down to Texas for a showdown with the Houston Rockets.
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Tip-off Time: 6:30 PM CT (7:30 PM ET)
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
This isn't just another January game. Houston has been on a tear, looking for their eighth straight home win. The Rockets are currently led by some familiar faces and rising stars like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, while the Thunder are still sitting pretty at the top of the Western Conference with a 34-7 record.
One thing to watch for: availability. The Thunder played the Spurs without Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort. Whether those guys suit up in Houston could totally change the defensive vibe of the game.
Upcoming Schedule and Start Times for January 2026
If you’re planning out your week or trying to clear your calendar for some "Thunder Up" time, here is what the rest of the month looks like. Note that times can shift slightly based on national TV windows, but these are the current locked-in slots.
- Saturday, Jan 17 at Miami Heat: This one is a late one for the East Coast folks, tipping at 8:00 PM CT.
- Monday, Jan 19 at Cleveland Cavaliers: This is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day game. It’s a matinee! OKC plays at 2:30 PM CT. Don’t get caught trying to tune in at night; it’ll be over by then.
- Wednesday, Jan 21 at Milwaukee Bucks: A heavy-hitter matchup on ESPN. Tip-off is set for 8:30 PM CT.
- Friday, Jan 23 vs. Indiana Pacers: Back home at the Paycom Center. The game starts at 7:00 PM CT.
Why the Start Times Keep Changing
Ever wonder why one night it's 7:00 and the next it's 8:30? It’s mostly about who is paying for the cameras.
When the Thunder are on Amazon Prime Video or Peacock, the league sometimes pushes the start times to accommodate national audiences. For example, that Bucks game on the 21st is an ESPN exclusive, so they want it in that prime late-night slot.
Then you have the local broadcast factors. If you’re watching on FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma (formerly Bally), they usually stick to the standard 7:00 PM window for home games. But when the team travels to places like Miami or Cleveland, we’re at the mercy of their local time zones and arena availability.
How to Actually Watch the Thunder in 2026
The "how" is just as important as the "when." If you're in the Oklahoma City market, your primary home is FanDuel Sports Network. But for the cord-cutters and the out-of-town fans, it's a bit of a patchwork quilt.
- Peacock and NBC: This season, the NBA has a big presence on NBC and Peacock. Several Thunder games, including that recent Spurs blowout, were Peacock exclusives.
- Amazon Prime Video: Expect a lot of Thursday and Friday night games to land here.
- YouTube TV / Fubo: These are still the go-to for catching the local FanDuel Sports broadcasts if you don't want traditional cable.
- NBA League Pass: Only works if you live outside the Oklahoma viewing area. If you're in Tulsa or OKC, you'll be blacked out unless it’s a national game.
What Most People Get Wrong About Tip-Off
Pro tip: If the schedule says 7:00 PM, the ball is almost never in the air at 7:00 PM.
Usually, there’s about 8 to 12 minutes of "fluff"—player introductions, the national anthem, and last-minute warmups. If it’s a big national TNT or ESPN broadcast, you might be looking at 15 minutes of pre-game talking heads before a single dribble happens. If you’re just trying to catch the action, 7:10 is usually the "real" start time for a 7:00 game.
The Outlook for This Week
This stretch is brutal. Mark Daigneault’s squad is playing four straight games against teams with winning records. After surviving the Spurs, they have to deal with a physical Houston team and then a long flight to Miami.
Winning without Dort and Hartenstein showed just how deep this roster is. Kenrich Williams and Alex Caruso have been picking up the slack, and honestly, seeing Shai and Chet Holmgren operate in the pick-and-roll right now is basically basketball art.
Actionable Next Steps:
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- Double-check your streaming login: If you’re planning to watch the Rockets game on Thursday, make sure your Amazon or local sports app is updated.
- Set an alarm for Monday: Since the Cavs game is a 2:30 PM matinee, it’s easy to miss if you're working or busy.
- Check the injury report: Follow the team's official beat writers about 90 minutes before tip-off to see if Lu Dort is back in the lineup.
The Thunder are the hunted now. Everyone in the West is circling their date with OKC on the calendar. Whether you're watching from the loud seats at Paycom or on your phone during dinner, being ready for that tip-off time is the first step to keeping up with the best team in the West.