September 1, 2023
Where To Buy Oklahoma City Thunder Tickets
The Oklahoma City Thunder head into 2025-26 as the team to beat — they’re defending NBA champions, and that status is already shaping the secondary-market for OKC Thunder tickets at Paycom Center. If you want to catch a game this season, the good news is there are still plenty of affordable nights — but the headline matchups will carry a premium. Here’s how the market looks right now and where to find the best value.
The overall price picture: bargains and premiums
The spread this season is wide. At the bargain end, preseason tickets are literally pocket change; at the top end, marquee opponents push get-in prices into three figures. If you’re shopping the resale market, here are the extremes to know:
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Cheapest ticket listed (preseason): Oct 9 vs Charlotte Hornets — From $7+. A no-brainer if you just want the arena experience without the sticker shock.
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Cheapest regular-season get-in: Oct 30 vs Washington Wizards — From $13+. Several early regular games sit in the teens, giving casual fans excellent options.
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Most expensive listed (so far): Oct 21 vs Houston Rockets — From $218+. That Houston visit is the priciest opening-month slate item, reflecting both star power on the road and national interest.
In short: if you want a seat at a Thunder game without stretching your budget, target midweek, non-rival matchups — especially outside nationally televised windows.
Cheapest regular-season games to target
If your goal is simply to be inside Paycom Center, these regular-season dates stand out as the best buys:
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Oct 30 vs Washington Wizards — From $13+. The lowest-listed regular-season get-in.
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Nov 19 vs Sacramento Kings — From $14+. Early season value.
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Oct 28 vs Sacramento Kings — From $15+. Two cheap King nights make OKC a bargain market for those matchups.
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Jan 7 vs Utah Jazz — From $17+. A winter date that won’t break the bank.
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Feb 26 vs Portland Trail Blazers — From $33+. A solid late-season option for a family night.
These sub-$40 listings are a reminder that championship teams don’t always equal sky-high prices every night — supply and opponent matter.
The priciest nights (and why)
Some opponents always command a premium — whether it’s a star-studded visitor, a rivalry feel, or a nationally televised slot. The leading expensive nights for Thunder home fans:
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Oct 21 vs Houston Rockets — From $218+. In what's expected to be quite the emotional night. The home opener will see the Thunder ring ceremony, as well as the return of the franchise's first superstar, Kevin Durant.
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Mar 7 vs Golden State Warriors — From $147+. Curry-era matchups and the national TV pull push demand.
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Apr 2 vs Los Angeles Lakers — From $170+. Any time a marquee West road team lands in OKC, expect the building to be full.
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Mar 9 vs Denver Nuggets — From $52+. A potential Western Conference Finals preview.
If you want the spectacle — celebrity sightings, bigger crowds, and playoff energy — those nights are the ones that deliver; they’re also the nights where waiting to buy is risky.
Matchups to circle (beyond price)
A few games matter less for sticker shock and more for storyline — or because they tend to produce special atmospheres:
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Thunder vs. Rockets (Oct 21 & Feb 7): Big and noisy games — Rockets’ recent additions turned this into a must-see.
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Thunder vs. Warriors (Nov 11 & Mar 7): National interest and highlight-reel potential make these musts for many fans.
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Thunder vs. Lakers (Nov 12 & Apr 2): Another high-attention matchup that brings casual and hardcore fans out in force.
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Thunder vs. Celtics (Mar 12): East vs. West marquee feel — good for neutral fans who want to see two championship-level teams square off.
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Thunder vs. Knicks (Mar 29): Knicks fans travel — that can push certain late-season prices up.
These are the games where the Paycom Center vibe gets amped up — the sorts of nights you want to buy earlier than later.
Why OKC still offers good value
A few market realities help explain why OKC shows both bargains and spikes:
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Arena size & local demand: Paycom Center is a passionate home, but Oklahoma City is a smaller market than L.A. or New York — fewer guaranteed out-of-market tourists means more accessible pricing on many dates.
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Schedule quirks: Weeknight games and non-national windows hold steady as lower-cost options.
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Defending champs effect: Winning the title pushes demand for premium nights, but it also expands supply of fans wanting to catch them on more affordable nights, balancing out some of the pricing pressure.
Quick buyer tips for Thunder tickets
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Buy early for marquee matchups (Rockets, Warriors, Lakers). Those are unlikely to drop — they often only climb.
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Target midweek or less-glamorous opponents if you want seats under $40. Games like the Kings, Wizards, and early-season Jazz dates are your best bets.
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Preseason is a cheap way to see the team — Oct 9 is priced from $7+ if you want the arena vibe without a big spend.
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Watch national TV windows: Saturday prime time or nationally televised Sunday slots will usually be the most expensive.
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Use fee-free marketplaces (TicketIQ) to reduce surprise fees at checkout.
Final word: defend or double down?
Being the defending champion changes the calculus — expect the Thunder to remain a strong draw at Paycom Center, with big spikes for national marquee nights (like the Oct 21 Rockets visit). But the presence of several low-cost regular dates means this is still one of the more fan-friendly big-market ticket climates in the league if you’re willing to be flexible.
