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.

OKC Thunder primed for a title run as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren lock in extensions, keeping the core intact for 2025-26. Enter Cason Wallace with a three-pronged mission: sharpen his outside shot, grow as a secondary playmaker, and secure a lucrative contract extension. The plan hinges on Wallace elevating spacing, sharing ball-handling duties, and proving he can anchor bench units as OKC pursues another deep playoff push.