The Oklahoma City Thunder have been nothing short of dominant to start the season. Through 12 games, they hold an 11-1 record and once again sit atop the Western Conference standings — a familiar position for the reigning NBA champions.
Oklahoma City’s impressive start has included wins over several top-tier opponents, such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. In their most recent outing, the Thunder blew out Golden State by 24 points, holding superstar Steph Curry to just 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting.
Tonight, the challenge continues as they take on Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers on the second night of a back-to-back. Dončić leads the league in scoring, averaging an incredible 37.1 points per game through seven appearances. His teammate Austin Reaves isn’t far behind, ranking sixth in the NBA with 30.3 points per game.
Luckily for Oklahoma City, Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren are available to play according to Thunder insider Brandon Rahbar. Each of them played last night, but have bounced on and off the injured list many times this season. However, they’ll still be shorthanded on the perimeter, with Luguentz Dort officially ruled out. Aaron Wiggins and Jalen Williams will also remain sidelined. Williams, Oklahoma City’s No. 2 scoring option last season, has yet to make his 2025–26 debut.
Following tonight’s matchup, the Thunder will get a brief but much-needed rest. They’ll have Thursday and Friday off before traveling to Spectrum Center to face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
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