One of the most talked about teams of the offseason is facing off against the reigning champs as the NBA in one of the first games of a brand-new NBA season. It doesn’t get much better than that.
There’s a ton of games on tonight to open up the NBA season, but if you’re looking for storylines, this is the one to watch. All eyes are on Kevin Durant, who will be rocking Rockets red for the first time, and looking to torch his former squad.
Surrounded by a young core, KD and the Rockets are aiming to prove they’re not just buzz‑worthy; they’re the real deal. Meanwhile, OKC, fresh off a title, wants to remind the West that they’re still on top.
Can Houston’s revamped roster live up to the hype, or will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder slam the door on the league’s latest “it” team? Expect highlight dunks, breakout performances, and maybe even a playoff preview.
We’ve got all the information on how to watch below.
Rockets vs. Thunder: what to know
- When: Tuesday, October 21 @ 7:30 PM EST
- Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
Rockets vs. Thunder start time:
This season’s first matchup between the Rockets and Thunder starts tonight at 7:30 PM, EST.
How to watch Rockets vs. Thunder for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus every other channel you’ll need for the NBA season including local channels). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
Sling TV is another affordable way to stream NBA games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.
2025-26 NBA season key dates
- Oct. 21: Regular season begins
- Oct. 31: NBA Cup group play begins
- Nov. 1: NBA Mexico City Game 2025 (Pistons vs. Mavericks)
- Nov. 28: NBA Cup group play concludes
- Dec. 9-10: NBA Cup quarterfinals
- Dec. 13: NBA Cup semifinals
- Dec. 16: NBA Cup finals
- Dec. 25: Christmas Day (five games)
- Jan. 15: NBA Berlin Games (Magic vs. Grizzlies)
- Jan. 18: NBA London Games (Magic vs. Grizzlies)
- Jan. 20-24: NBA Rivals Week
- Feb. 1: NBA Pioneers Classic (Bucks vs. Celtics)
- Feb. 5: Trade deadline
- Feb. 13-15: NBA All-Star Weekend
- April 12: Regular season ends
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
