The Oklahoma City Thunder are not where they expected to be at this point in the season. Oklahoma City is treading water until they can get Kevin Durant (fractured right foot) and Russell Westbrook (broken right hand) back in the lineup. Until then, some of the younger Thunder players are getting a shot to play.
With a 3-6 record, that’s not exactly what Thunder fans were looking from this team this season. Reggie Jackson has stepped up to the challenge for the Thunder and is averaging 22.8 points, 7.5 assists and 4 rebounds per game, all career-highs. Serge Ibaka is pulling his weight with a 16.1 points (career high), 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game stat-line.
Some analysts have suggested the Thunder tank the season for a lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Even if the team does not decide to tank on the court, prices for Thunder tickets are starting to tank on the secondary market. That will be especially true for this weekend’s games against the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets.
Greg Monroe and the Pistons should provide an intriguing challenge to the undermanned Thunder this weekend. Photo by Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit will test the reeling Oklahoma City squad on Friday night. Despite their 2-6 record, Detroit is remaining competitive, losing two of its last three games by a single point. Greg Monroe is leading the way for the Pistons, averaging 17.3 points and 11 rebounds per game while Brandon Jennings is averaging 14.9 points, 6.4 assists and 1 steal per game. Jennings (22.97) and Monroe (22.94) are ranked 18th and 19th in the league in PER (player efficiency rating) this season.
Thunder vs Pistons tickets from TiqIQ to Friday’s game are well below the season average of $162 per game this year. Fans can expect to pay $59.24, 73 percent less than average, on the secondary ticket market while the get-in price is just $11.
Houston will provide a bigger test for the Thunder on Sunday.
The Rockets are red-hot this season with a 7-1 record. James Harden is leading the way with 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game while Dwight Howard is averaging 20 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Both Harden (25.5) and Howard (24.5) are in the top ten in PER (player efficiency rating) in the NBA this season.
While ticket prices are almost $30 higher than the Detroit game at $88.91 on average on the secondary ticket market, it is still well below the $162 average for Thunder home games this season. Like the Detroit game, fans can expect to pay $11 for a get-in price.
