Shai Gilgeous-Alexander forced the league’s hand.
After Oklahoma City’s originally scheduled TNT televised game against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 1 was shifted off the national broadcast due to Chet Holmgren’s absence, the Thunder are back on national television for the first time since the 2020 NBA playoffs.
The Thunder’s road game against the Miami Heat on Jan. 10 will be televised on TNT. It will replace the Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers matchup.
The Thunder (15-19) have been playing well this season. The youngest team in the league is just two games out of the play-in tournament spots in the standings.
A lot of that is due to Gilgeous-Alexander’s awesome play this season. In 31 games, Gilgeeous-Alexander is averaging 31.5 points on 62.3% true shooting, 5.8 assists and 4.9 rebounds.
With his All-Star bid, it would’ve been criminal not to expose Gilgeous-Alexander to a national audience at least once this season. The Thunder gets their wish with a national TV game against the Heat.
This will be the second matchup between both teams. The Heat won the first game, 110-108.
The Jan. 10 game is set to start at 6:30 p.m. CT.
