What happened: The Oklahoma City Thunder opened the regular season by stifling both opposing 2026 MVP finalists, holding Victor Wembanyama to 12 points on 1/13 shooting and limiting Nikola Jokic to 13 points on 5/19 from the floor. Oklahoma City secured a 96-84 victory in the final game of that two-game defensive stretch.

Why it matters: Neutralizing two premier offensive hubs in consecutive games highlights Oklahoma City's interior and perimeter defensive versatility early in the regular season. Forcing inefficient shooting from opposing stars allows the Thunder to dictate pace and win low-scoring matchups.

What to watch: Oklahoma City looks to carry its opening-week defensive efficiency into the next stretch of its regular-season schedule.