What happened: Oklahoma City moved ahead in the third quarter of its season opener, the late game of a three-game NBC slate at 9:30 p.m. ET. Aday Mara contributed a rim swat and a two-hand alley-oop slam in his first NBA game.

Why it matters: Opening night sets the tone for Oklahoma City's 2026-27 campaign on a national broadcast. Early minutes for a debutant offer a first measure of bench depth.

What to watch: The fourth quarter decides the finale and the closing rotation.