After months of anticipation, the Oklahoma City Thunder finally return to the court tonight to open the 2025-26 NBA season and it’s not just any opener. It’s ring night in Oklahoma City, as the Thunder celebrate their first NBA Championship in franchise history (they don’t recognize the Sonics championship) and raise a banner before tipping off against the rising Houston Rockets.

The emotions of the evening will be high, the arena electric, and the expectations immense. But as head coach Mark Daigneault and the players have emphasized all offseason, the celebration can’t become a distraction. The Rockets, young and hungry under Ime Udoka, won’t be in town to watch the ceremony, they’ll be looking to spoil it.

For Oklahoma City, here are the three keys to opening the season with a statement win.

1. Don’t Let Ring Night Emotions Take Over

Ring night is special. It’s the culmination of months of hard work and one of the few moments teams get to reflect. But once the ball goes up, emotion must turn into execution. 

The Thunder can’t afford a slow start or mental lapses fueled by the pregame celebration.

The Rockets are exactly the kind of team that feeds off energy swings. Players like Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason thrive on chaos and momentum. If the Thunder let adrenaline dictate their pace, it could lead to rushed possessions and defensive breakdowns early.

The message will be clear from Daigneault’s huddle; celebrate the moment, then reset and refocus. The championship rings are a reward but the Rockets are the reminder that every team will be gunning for them now.

2. Bring the Physicality

If last year’s playoff run taught the Thunder anything, it’s that toughness wins games when the intensity rises. The Rockets are one of the league’s most physical young teams, led by Alperen Sengun’s inside play and Amen Thompson’s gritty perimeter defense.

For the Thunder Chet Holmgren will need to hold his own in the paint while Cason Wallace and Lu Dort set the tone on the wings. The Thunder finesse and spacing make them dangerous, but matching Houston’s physical edge will be crucial to maintaining control.

Expect the Thunder to crash the boards aggressively, contest every cut, and use physical defense to dictate rhythm. If the Thunder win the effort and toughness battle early, they can sap Houston’s energy and take away their confidence.

3. Make the Rockets Play Thunder Basketball & Not the Other Way Around

This is a very unique matchup where both teams have a very distinct way of playing while also being able to play other teams’ style. 

Houston wants chaos. Physicality, fast breaks, turnovers, and broken plays. The Thunder want more structure that includes pace with purpose, spacing, and controlled creation through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

To win, the Thunder must make the Rockets play their game. That means patient offense but having a balance of playing with pace, precision passing, and physical defensive discipline. When the Thunder move the ball and get all five players involved, they’re nearly impossible to guard.

If Gilgeous-Alexander commands the tempo and Holmgren stretches the floor, Houston will be forced to adjust. The more organized the Thunder are, the more frustrated and mistake-prone the Rockets become.

Another thing is their double big lineup. The Thunder can certainly play with a double big lineup with Holmgen and Isaiah Hartenstein, but they thrive when they only have one big on the floor when teams try to go bigger. 

Dictate the terms and they’ll win the game.