Thunder open title protection by profitable 2-OT thriller vs. Rockets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 factors, together with two from the free-throw line with 2.3 seconds remaining in double extra time, lifting the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to a 125-124 dwelling win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday within the season opener.

Earlier than the sport, Oklahoma Metropolis’s championship banner was raised into the rafters and the gamers have been offered with their championship rings for final 12 months’s title run.

Then the Thunder and Rockets locked right into a wild back-and-forth recreation, largely that includes Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren developing with large performs for Oklahoma Metropolis as Alperun Sengun and Kevin Durant did the identical for Houston.

In the long run, it was Gilgeous-Alexander developing with the ultimate large second.

After Sengun put the Rockets forward by one with a driving finger roll off a feed from Durant with 11 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander drove to the basket and drew a foul on Durant.

The foul was Durant’s sixth, ending his Rockets debut.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who had missed 4 of his 12 earlier free throws, hit each of his foul pictures to place Oklahoma Metropolis forward. Jabari Smith Jr.’s turnaround shot on the buzzer missed the mark to provide the Thunder the win.

Holmgren, who fouled out within the first extra time, completed with 28 factors and 7 rebounds.

Sengun, who sank a career-high 5 3-pointers, completed with 39 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Durant scored 23 factors and pulled down 9 boards.

For a lot of the sport, it appeared as if the Rockets would spoil the Thunder’s celebration.

Houston’s large lineup, with 4 6-foot-11 gamers, gave Oklahoma Metropolis matches early.

However the Thunder crept again into the sport with stingy protection, pressured extra time late, then Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren took over offensively.

Houston led by as many as 12 factors within the second half, however the Thunder — as that they had loads of instances throughout final season’s title run — did not go away.

Oklahoma Metropolis struggled from distance all through the sport, however Cason Wallace drained a 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining to drag his staff inside 101-100.

Gilgeous-Alexander then got here up with a steal on the following possession.

Smith was initially referred to as for a foul on Gilgeous-Alexander’s subsequent drive to the basket, although the foul — however not Oklahoma Metropolis’s possession — was overturned on assessment.

Gilgeous-Alexander then drained a jumper to place Oklahoma Metropolis forward for the primary time for the reason that second quarter.

Sengun hit a driving jumper over Alex Caruso to place the Rockets again up entrance with 38.4 seconds left.

After Wallace missed a 3-point try, Durant drew a foul from Luguentz Dort with 10 seconds left.

However Durant, who joined Houston after an offseason commerce from the Phoenix Suns, missed the primary of two free throws.

Durant made the second to place Houston up 104-102 earlier than Gilgeous-Alexander pull-up jumper with 2.6 seconds left to power extra time.

Oklahoma Metropolis shortly jumped up six within the first OT due to Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren, however the Thunder missed their final 4 pictures within the interval and Sengun tied it with a putback dunk with 8.8 seconds to go shortly after Holmgren fouled out.

–Area Degree Media