Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in tonight’s opening game on NBC (7:30 ET).
Welcome to the 2025-26 NBA season! We’re beginning with a doubleheader on NBC and Peacock featuring Rockets-Thunder (7:30 ET) and Lakers-Warriors (10 ET).
Follow along with NBA.com’s live blog of all the action!
We’ll be here tonight and throughout the season, sharing highlights, observations, news and notes, making sure you’re getting all the best the NBA has to offer.
7:14 PM / OCTOBER 21, 2025
The Thunder receive their championship rings
The Oklahoma City faithful are roaring their approval in the Paycom Center as each member of the 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder strides forward to receive their championship ring.
“Luuuuuuu” for Lugnetz Dort; raucous “MVP! MVP!” chants for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
It’s a party in Oklahoma City tonight.
“The love has been unconditional,” Gilgeous-Alexander said to the crowd before the 2024-25 championship banner was raised to the rafters. “We will never forget you guys.”
As the banner made its way skyward, the crowd celebrated the first NBA Championship in franchise and state history, chanting “OKC! OKC!”
“That made it feel a lot more real,” said Jalen Williams. “It’s a very special moment for everybody in here… I would cut my hand off to win another one.”
Williams said the Thunder want to run it back, celebrating their first title victory along the way.
Will they? Tune in to the 2025-26 NBA season to find out.
7:00 PM / OCTOBER 21, 2025
How to watch: Rockets-Thunder and Warriors-Lakers
- Watch: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo
The broadcasts are available for international viewers via the NBA App.
6:38 PM / OCTOBER 21, 2025
Shai gets loose
The 2024-25 scoring leader.
The MVP.
The Finals MVP.
The Champ.SGA warms up for another season to tip off 🍿
HOU/OKC | 7:30 PM ET | NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/c4URKNkrFi
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2025
6:30 PM / OCTOBER 21, 2025
Cue up “Roundball Rock”
“NBA on NBC.”
All the memories. All the feels.
TONIGHT… the next chapter of the NBA on NBC and Peacock begins!
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2025
5:30 PM / OCTOBER 21, 2025
A star-studded doubleheader
We’re tipping off the 2025-26 NBA season with a doubleheader on NBC and Peacock that’s packed with intrigue.
KD 🆚 SGA. STEPH 🆚 LUKA.
A star-studded @AmericanExpress NBA Tip-Off doubleheader tonight on NBC & Peacock!
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2025
In the opening contest, last year’s Kia NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will be presented with their championship rings before facing former franchise cornerstone Kevin Durant and the new-look Houston Rockets, who are looking to build on a 52-win campaign.
In the nightcap, iconic Western Conference rivals will tip off their quests for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, as Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors face Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James is inactive tonight (sciatica).
5:15 PM / OCTOBER 21, 2025
Kevin Durant returns to Oklahoma City
15-time All-Star Kevin Durant, who signed a two-year extension with Houston on Monday, returns to Oklahoma City this evening to tip off the season.
Shaun Powell caught up with Durant ahead of tonight’s action, getting his thoughts on returning to Oklahoma City and continuing his historic career.
READY. FOR. LIFTOFF.
The only player in NBA history to average 25+ PPG with 4 different franchises… KD makes his @HoustonRockets debut TONIGHT 🚀 pic.twitter.com/XWY1DNtRON
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2025
Durant scored 17,566 of his NBA points with the Thunder, rising to third on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. He’s now ready to put his legendary touch to work for the Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durant makes his regular-season debut with the @HoustonRockets tonight at 7:30 PM ET on NBC/Peacock.
Last season, Durant became just the eighth player in NBA history to join the 30,000-point club.
A look at where he stands among the NBA’s all-time scoring leaders ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vamxfMF9sk
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 21, 2025
Durant faces superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who stands at sixth on the OKC scoring list with 10,405 points, and the Thunder.
Jeff Green and Steven Adams, both Thunder stalwarts-turned-Rockets, are also back in Oklahoma City tonight.
5:00 PM / OCTOBER 21, 2025
The NBA is back tonight!
We’re about to begin the 2025-26 NBA season! Lock in and get excited for tonight’s games.
THE WAIT IS OVER.
THE 2025-26 NBA SEASON STARTS TONIGHT!
🍿 HOU/OKC, 7:30pm/et
🍿 GSW/LAL, 10pm/et
📺 NBC and Peacockpic.twitter.com/fIc3u5CVCe— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2025
