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Raptors Face Thunder: Underdogs Challenge Defending Champions

1/26/2026

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Raptors Face Thunder

The Toronto Raptors will play the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 25, 2026, at 7 p.m. EST at Paycom Center.
The Thunder are defending champions with a 37-9 record.
They are favored by 11.5 points despite injuries.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to lead the Thunder after scoring 47 points in a recent loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Raptors aim to cover the spread as road underdogs.

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Timberwolves Postpone Game

The National Basketball Association postponed the Timberwolves vs. Warriors game scheduled for Saturday after a fatal shooting by federal agents.
The game is now set for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT.
Protests against immigration enforcement drew thousands in Minneapolis amid rising tensions.
The Timberwolves organization recommended postponement to allow time for processing the incident and to allocate security resources.
The game will air on FanDuel Sports North instead of ABC.

History

Historical Context

The 2020 NBA season faced unprecedented disruptions due to civil unrest following George Floyd's murder on May 25, which ignited nationwide protests against police brutality. On August 26, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted a playoff game in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, leading to the postponement of all games that day. This highlighted the league's struggle to address social justice issues while maintaining fan engagement.

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Raptors Face Thunder

The Toronto Raptors will play the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 25, 2026, at 7 p.m. EST at Paycom Center.
The Thunder are defending champions with a 37-9 record.
They are favored by 11.5 points despite injuries.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to lead the Thunder after scoring 47 points in a recent loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Raptors aim to cover the spread as road underdogs.

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