Vitals: Thunder vs. Bulls

Originally Published: Oct 26, 2010 7:39 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0) vs. Chicago Bulls (0-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7:00 p.m. CST
The Oklahoma City Arena
Game 1 of 82

Anticipated Starting Lineups (Preseason averages)

Injuries
Oklahoma City: PF Nick Collison (knee, OUT), F/C Cole Aldrich (shoulder, PROBABLE)
Chicago: PF Carlos Boozer (thumb, OUT)

Where to find it:
On TV: TNT
Radio: Thunder Radio Network (Matt Pinto)

What you need to know...

After several long months, the wait for Thunder fans is finally over as the team tips off the season against the Chicago Bulls. The game will be the first home game in the newly dubbed - and temporarily dubbed - Oklahoma City Arena. Thunder officials have asked fans to wear blue and be in their seats at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the 7 p.m. tipoff to smooth out traffic and ensure a big-game environment from the get-go.

The Thunder have stayed busy over the offseason, with a majority of its roster still competing in summer leagues, and the "big three" - Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green - were busy with the FIBA World Championships. Green was on the preliminary rosters while Durant and Westbrook made the final cut to represent the USA at Turkey. Durant easily led the team in scoring, and many said Westbrook was the team's second-best player, so neither should have much rust coming into the season opener. The Thunder went 4-3 in preseason and are coming off a 101-86 win against New Orleans to wrap up preseason play.

Thunder forward/center Nick Collison will be out for about three more weeks with a lower left leg stress injury. Collison wasn't a consistent starter last season for OKC, but played major minutes and led the league in charges taken. Collison would have been the perfect player to bang down low with Bulls center Joakim Noah, one of the league's best rebounders and hustlers. The Thunder have been banged up in the preseason, but were the league's healthiest team in the regular season in the 2009-10 season.

Who to watch...

Chicago acquired forward Carlos Boozer from the Jazz in the offseason, but Boozer will have to wait a while to make his Bulls debut. Boozer had surgery on a broken right hand and will be out until at least early December. Young forward Taj Gibson will likely replace Boozer in the starting lineup.

The Thunder's opening game features perhaps the two fastest and most athletic point guards in the league in Russell Westbrook and the Bulls' Derrick Rose. Rose was drafted first overall in 2008 and Westbrook fourth, immediately starting comparisons between the two guards that continue to this day. Both were on the Team USA roster that made the trip to Turkey and won the FIBA World Championship. Rose was the starting point guard, but Westbrook gave the team similar production coming off the bench.

Thunder center Nenad Krstic is returning from surgery on his right index finger and played in just one preseason game leading up to the opener. Krstic could still be sluggish and has a tough task in guarding the young, energetic Joakim Noah of the Bulls. If Krstic is ineffective, the Thunder might utilize forward Serge Ibaka more than usual in the opening game to counter Chicago's athletic front line.