OKLAHOMA CITY, July 26, 2012 – The Oklahoma City Thunder announced its 2012-13 regular season schedule today. The team will begin its upcoming campaign at San Antonio on Nov. 1 in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals before returning home to the Chesapeake Energy Arena a night later to host the Portland Trail Blazers in the club’s home opener on Nov. 2.
The Thunder is slated to appear on national television 30 times during the 2012-13 season. ABC will feature Oklahoma City on five occasions, including a Christmas evening NBA Finals rematch as the Thunder travels to Miami to face the Heat. Additionally, Oklahoma City is set to make 10 TNT and 10 ESPN appearances during the course of the 2012-13 season. NBA TV will also feature the Thunder on five occasions.
The Thunder will once again continue its tradition of family friendly scheduling this season with 17 home games set to be played on Friday and Sunday. Seven of the team’s eight home Sunday contests will be played in a noon or a 6:00 p.m. early evening format.
Thunder fans will be treated to a season-long five-game home stand starting in early December which will feature the L.A. Lakers (12/7), the Indiana Pacers (12/9), the New Orleans Hornets (12/12), the Sacramento Kings (12/14) and the San Antonio Spurs (12/17). Beyond the Thunder’s lone five-game home stand, Oklahoma City’s schedule includes five stretches in which the Thunder will play three consecutive home games.
As has been the case in each of the last four seasons, the Thunder will once again play at home on New Year’s Eve. On the final day of 2012 the Thunder will host the Phoenix Suns as a part of Oklahoma City’s Opening Night celebration.
During the 2012-13 season, the Thunder will compete in 15 sets of back-to-backs. Including the team’s season opening back-to-back on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, Oklahoma City will play three back-to-back sets in the first 12 days of the regular season. After facing the L.A. Clippers and the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23, the Thunder will go nearly six weeks before playing games on consecutive nights.
Regionally, FOX Sports Oklahoma will again carry the majority of Thunder games. All games can be heard on the Thunder Radio Network, led by WWLS-FM (98.1) The Sports Animal.
