Thunder fans got everything they could have dreamed of on Tuesday night — and then some. From a ring ceremony to a championship banner unveiling to an emotional double-overtime victory over a familiar face, the reigning NBA champions opened their title defense in dramatic fashion.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning league MVP, hit two clutch free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 125-124 win over Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. The win capped an unforgettable opening night at Paycom Center and marked just the sixth double-overtime game in NBA opening-night history — and the first since 2005.
Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s scoring champion, overcame a quiet first half in which he scored just five points to finish with 35. His closing performance included a game-tying jumper at the end of regulation, a relentless attack in both overtimes, and the decisive free throws after being fouled by Durant.
“I just wanted to stay calm and do what we’ve been doing since last June — finish,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame.
Durant, playing his first game with Houston after an offseason trade, was booed loudly during pregame introductions — and every time he touched the ball. The 2014 MVP, who infamously left Oklahoma City in 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors, finished with 23 points and nine rebounds before fouling out on the pivotal play that set up Gilgeous-Alexander’s winning free throws.
As Durant exited to a chorus of jeers, Gilgeous-Alexander calmly knocked down both shots to give the Thunder a one-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Jabari Smith Jr.’s 19-foot jumper at the buzzer bounced off the rim, sending the sold-out crowd into a deafening celebration.
Chet Holmgren provided a major boost for Oklahoma City with 28 points and seven rebounds, while rookie guard Ajay Mitchell added 16 points — including a four-point play at the end of the first half that ignited the Thunder crowd.
Jalen Williams, who earned his first All-Star nod last season, was sidelined as he continues to recover from wrist surgery but was on the bench for the banner ceremony. Head coach Mark Daigneault said Williams is “progressing well.”
For Houston, Alperen Sengun was nearly unstoppable, pouring in a career-high 39 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists while hitting five 3-pointers.
The Thunder trailed by four late in regulation before Gilgeous-Alexander’s short jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining tied the game at 104. Sengun’s fadeaway at the buzzer rimmed out, sending the game into the first overtime.
In the final seconds of the first extra period, with the score tied at 115, Durant appeared to try calling a timeout the Rockets didn’t have — a mistake reminiscent of Chris Webber’s 1993 NCAA title game blunder. Officials did not grant the timeout, however, and the game continued. Afterward, crew chief Zach Zarba confirmed that the officials did not see Durant’s signal.
Despite the chaos, Oklahoma City managed to outlast Houston in the second overtime — thanks once again to the poise of their MVP.
“Tonight was about more than just basketball,” Daigneault said. “The banner, the energy, the emotions — our guys stayed composed and found a way.”
As the confetti settled, Thunder fans lingered to soak in a night that celebrated both the past and the promise of another title run.
The Rockets continue their road trip against the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
The Thunder visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals — a series Oklahoma City won in seven games.
