In a spectacular season opener that required two overtime periods to decide a winner, the Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly defeated the Houston Rockets 125-124 at the Paycom Center on Tuesday night. A sellout crowd of 18,203 was on the edge of their seats for a contest that featured 22 lead changes and 12 ties, ultimately decided in the final moments.
The game was a hard-fought battle from the opening tip. The Rockets came out strong, taking a 30-27 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 57-51 by halftime. Houston’s offense, led by a phenomenal performance from Alperen Şengün, seemed to be in control, building a lead as large as 12 points.
However, the Thunder, known for their resilience, refused to go away. They chipped away at the deficit in the third quarter, outscoring the Rockets 24-22, to enter the final frame trailing by just four. The fourth quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Oklahoma City clawed their way back, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taking charge, and managed to tie the game at 104-104, sending the electrifying contest into overtime.
Neither team could find separation in the first extra period, with both squads scoring 11 points to leave the score knotted at 115-115, forcing a second overtime. In the final five minutes, the intensity reached a fever pitch. Clutch baskets were exchanged, but it was the Thunder who made the decisive plays down the stretch, outlasting the Rockets by a single point, 10-9, in the final frame to secure the dramatic victory.
Alperen Şengün was nothing short of brilliant for the Rockets in the loss, pouring in a game-high 39 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists in nearly 49 minutes of play. Kevin Durant added 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Amen Thompson contributed 18 points and 5 assists.
For the victorious Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with a spectacular 35-point performance, adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Chet Holmgren was a major factor on both ends of the floor, finishing with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Cason Wallace also had a strong showing with 14 points, while Ajay Mitchell provided a crucial spark off the bench with 16 points.
Statistically, the game was as close as the final score indicated. Oklahoma City held a slight edge in field goal percentage, shooting 44.2% to Houston’s 44.3%. The Thunder dominated in the paint, outscoring the Rockets 50-44, and were lethal in transition, racking up 16 fast-break points to Houston’s 2. However, the Rockets controlled the glass, particularly on the offensive end, securing 24 second-chance points compared to just 12 for the Thunder. Ultimately, in a game of inches, it was the Thunder’s execution in the critical moments of the second overtime that proved to be the difference in this unforgettable season opener.
