22
Oct
Match Recaps
SGA outshines KD as Thunder win double-OT thriller
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots a three point basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 21, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA's reigning MVP and defending champions proved too much for Kevin Durant and the Rockets
- The OKC Thunder received their NBA championship rings and raised the championship banner before the contest with Houston
- Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 of his 35 points in the second half
- Two-time NBA champion and 2014 MVP Kevin Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds in his Rockets debut
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved as clutch as ever, scoring 30 second-half points to lead the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a nail-biting 125-124 double-overtime win over Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in the 2025-26 season opener at Paycom Center.
Gilgeous-Alexander came alive in the second half, especially in the dying stages of the fourth quarter and both overtimes, and hit two free-throws with less than three seconds on the clock to give the Thunder a one-point lead with Houston's Jabari Smith Jr missing a potential game-winner.
The task was made a little easier for OKC after Durant, who was playing his first game for the Rockets after being traded from the Phoenix Suns during the offseason, fouled out in the second overtime.
The Rockets started the game in intimidating fashion with one of the biggest starting line-ups in NBA history as young gun Amen Thompson filled in at the point guard position for the injured Fred VanVleet and Ime Udoka's team didn't seem to miss a beat.
Houston went into half-time with a 57-51 advantage as Turkish big man Alperun Sengun looked a class above, dominating for the Rockets.
But Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Homgren and the Thunder - who received their NBA championship rings before the opener and raised the 2024-25 championship banner - responded in true championship fashion winning the third and fourth quarter to put themselves within reach of a comeback victory.
Durant made 1-from-2 from the free-throw line late, which would have almost guaranteed a win for his team in his first game.
Gilgeous-Alexander made clutch shot after clutch shot to close to final quarter to tie the game before Sengun missed a tough, contested jump shot to won the game at the end of regulation for he visitors.
The Canadian superstar and Sengun went back and forth in both overtime periods but the free-throws from Gilgeous-Alexander closed out the game for OKC in front of their home fans.
Last season's MVP had 35 points, five assists and five rebounds while Holmgren added 28 points and seven rebounds.
Sengun was the standout from Houston with 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds in his Rockets debut.
Golden State def. LA Lakers 119-109
Sharpshooter Buddy Hield stole the show in the second half with a three-point barrage helping the Golden State Warriors earn a convincing road win over the LA Lakers, who were without superstar LeBron James.
A 35-25 third quarter was the catalyst for Golden State's 10-point victory in the second game the NBA's opening day at Crypto.com Arena.
Jimmy Butler impressed as he started his first full season with the Warriors after being traded from the Miami Heat before the 2025 trade deadline, while Steph Curry also found his form early - proving this duo is going to provide endless problems for opposing defences.
Despite such a dominant third period, the Lakers and Luke Doncic mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, closing the deficit to just five points with minutes remaining but Hield's class from beyond the arc as well as key threes to Curry and even Draymond Green allowed the visitors to fend off Los Angeles.
Butler led the way for Golden State with 31 points, five rebounds and four assists and was supported by Curry with 23 points and Hield added 17 points, including 5-from-10 from long range.
A new-look Doncic showed he was in for a big 2025-26 season with 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers while Austin Reaves had 26 points and nine assists in a losing effort.
Golden State's exceptional shooting from the free-throw line proved to be a difference with the Warriors shooting 26-from-29 from the charity stripe compared to 17-from-28 from the Lakers.
