Can San Antonio Repeat Its Playoff Success Against Oklahoma City? Prediction | October 21, 2026
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
The new NBA regular season begins on October 21, with the San Antonio Spurs hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams enter the campaign with high ambitions after strong performances last season, but their preseason results have been very different. San Antonio finished its preparation with back-to-back wins, while Oklahoma City lost four of its five games.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio enjoyed a strong campaign last season, reaching the Western Conference Finals and the league semifinals. The Spurs also won a seven-game series against Oklahoma City, giving them a positive recent history against their opening-night opponents.
The team finished its preseason with two convincing victories. Across five games, San Antonio recorded two wins and three losses, but it ended on a high note by beating Phoenix 123–103 and Sacramento 126–97.
Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 19 points against Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox added 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Victor Wembanyama finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
San Antonio also made a notable offseason addition by signing Tobias Harris, while Wembanyama signed a rookie-scale extension. Harris gives the Spurs another experienced option, and retaining Wembanyama keeps their long-term plans centered on their standout big man.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City enters the regular season after a difficult preseason. The Thunder won only one of their five games, beating Indiana 114–112 in overtime, and suffered four defeats. Their preparation ended with a heavy 116–79 loss to Houston.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points in that game, while Jalen Williams contributed 18 points and seven rebounds. However, the team struggled to keep the Rockets under control and finished preseason with little momentum.
The Thunder also made significant roster changes during the offseason. Luguentz Dort was traded to Atlanta, while Isaiah Joe moved to Detroit and Aaron Wiggins joined the Hawks. Losing several rotation players could affect the team's depth, although preseason results alone are not enough to determine how the changes will translate once the regular season begins.
Key Trends
- San Antonio won its final two preseason games.
- Oklahoma City lost 4 of its 5 preseason games.
- The Spurs won 4 of their last 5 home games against the Thunder.
- San Antonio won 3 of the teams' last 4 meetings and leads 6–4 across their last ten games.
Prediction
San Antonio appears to have the stronger momentum heading into opening night. The Spurs closed preseason with two decisive wins, including a 29-point victory over Sacramento, and will have home-court advantage. Their recent home record against Oklahoma City also provides an encouraging sign. The Thunder, meanwhile, finished preparation with four losses in five games. Their offseason departures also leave questions about the depth of the rotation, though their core remains capable of making the matchup competitive. Preseason form should be treated cautiously, especially before the first game of a new campaign. Still, San Antonio's stronger finish, home advantage and recent head-to-head results make the Spurs the more convincing choice to start the season with a win. Recommended Bet: San Antonio Spurs to Win.
