Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlines OKC's 122-116 preseason win, scoring 16 on 7-of-9 in 20 minutes as the Thunder look playoff-ready. Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins provide burst off the bench, while Cason Wallace shows early playmaking. OKC finished with 30 assists and five double-digit scorers.

Charlotte answers with Ball, Miller and Sexton, plus Diabate and Bridges, but OKC's depth keeps the pressure on. A vivid taste of regular-season pace and a reminder that the champs remain the standard.

Sexton and Mann jump-start Charlotte’s offense in a tight loss to OKC, fueling an 18-6 burst that cut a 20-point deficit and showcased their playmaking and scoring punch. The Hornets leaned into pace with Ball pushing the break, while Bridges, Knueppel, and Miller locked in on the defensive end to slow SGA. Miller’s wrist and Salaûn’s growth remain ongoing stories as Charlotte refines its rotation and identity ahead of the regular season.

Oklahoma City opens its 2025-26 preseason with a road test against Charlotte in a non-traditional arena in South Carolina, a backdrop that highlights the evaluation phase for both teams. The 4 p.m. CT matchup is streamed via the Thunder App and Fubo, giving fantasy managers a chance to assess rotation decisions and depth after a short summer run.

The Thunder lean on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, with Isaiah Hartenstein providing frontcourt size. Charlotte counters with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Mason Plumlee. Notable injuries—Thomas Sorber for OKC, Grant Williams and Josh Green for Charlotte—shape early lineups, while the week’s schedule teases a Mavericks test and a Pacers trip.

Mid-round fantasy pivots with big upside: Kevin Porter Jr. steps into a primary role in Milwaukee, offering scoring, playmaking and three-point help as a high-usage option. Onyeka Okongwu benefits from Clint Capela’s departure, likely seeing expanded minutes and offensive touches. Payton Pritchard projects for a starter’s workload in Boston with growth in playmaking and off-ball scoring. Brandon Miller, Ausar Thompson, Andrew Nembhard, Kel'el Ware and Matas Buzelis all carry clear paths to meaningful roles and incremental production, giving managers multiple swing-for-value targets in the middle rounds.

These picks blend proven scoring with breakout potential and defensive impact, designed to stabilize weekly floors while offering ceiling leaps in minutes and usage as training camp and early-season rotations unfold. If you hit your early-rounds strong and target a couple of these mid-round pieces, you’ll diversify risk while maintaining upside across categories like points, assists, 3-pointers and stocks in rebounds/blocks.