OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder fans got everything they wanted Tuesday: a ring ceremony, the unveiling of the championship banner and a victory over former Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, made two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in the second overtime to give the Thunder a 125-124 victory. It was only the sixth time an opening night event had gone into double overtime and the first time since 2005.
Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s leading scorer, had just five points at halftime but finished with 35.
Thunder fans still haven’t forgiven Durant for leaving the Thunder in 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors, their biggest rival at the time. Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds in his first game with Houston after being traded in the offseason. He was booed loudly during starter introductions before the game, and this continued for much of the game.
Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with the Rockets leading 124-123 in the second overtime. The crowd cheered as Durant left the game with his sixth personal foul. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws for the deciding points. Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. missed a 19-foot jumper as time expired, and the Thunder survived in the season opener for both teams.
Chet Holmgren added 28 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder. Ajay Mitchell added 16 points, including a four-point play with one second left in the first half.
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, named an All-Star for the first time last season, sat out as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury he suffered last season. He had surgery on July 1 and coach Mark Daigneault said he was “progressing.”
Alperen Sengun had 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets. He made a career-high five 3-pointers.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s short jumper with 2.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter tied the score at 104. Sengun missed a fadeaway at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
With the score tied at 115 in the final seconds of the first overtime, Gilgeous-Alexander missed and Durant rebounded and tried to call a timeout that the Rockets didn’t have. The Thunder noticed this and attempted to alert officials, but no call was made and the game continued into the second overtime. Crew chief Zach Zarba said after the game that none of the three officials saw Durant call the timeout and therefore it was not awarded.
To be continued
The Rockets visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
The Thunder will visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals series that the Thunder won in seven games.
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