Key Takeaways:
- Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 125:124 victory over the Houston Rockets after two overtimes at the Paycom Center
- The encounter marked only the sixth occasion in NBA history that a season opener extended into a second overtime period
- Alperen Şengün recorded a game-high 39 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points for the Thunder
Opening Night Drama Unfolds in Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, inaugurated the new season with a nail-biting 125:124 triumph over the Houston Rockets, requiring two overtime periods to prevail in front of a jubilant home crowd at the Paycom Center. The contest marked only the sixth time in league history that an opening night fixture was decided in a second overtime. Prior to tip-off, both the team and their supporters celebrated last season’s triumph with the ceremonial presentation of championship rings.
🏀 TUESDAY'S FINAL SCORES 🏀
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes alive late to drop 24 in the 4Q and both OT periods as the @okcthunder begin their title defense with a thrilling win!
Chet Holmgren: 28 PTS, 7 REB
Ajay Mitchell: 16 PTS, 3 3PM, 14 MIN
Cason Wallace: 14 PTS, 7 REB, 5… pic.twitter.com/aEYzWZCPMX— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2025
Game Flow and Turning Points
Throughout much of the evening, Oklahoma City found themselves trailing, with the Houston Rockets holding the upper hand after each of the first three quarters. The Thunder faced a persistent deficit, but managed to stage a remarkable turnaround in the final period and beyond.
| Quarter | Thunder | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 27 | 30 |
| Q2 | 24 | 27 |
| Q3 | 24 | 22 |
| Q4 | 29 | 25 |
| OT1 | 11 | 11 |
| OT2 | 10 | 9 |
Key Player Performances
Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 11 points during the initial three quarters, but made a decisive impact in the closing stages. He notched 12 points in the fourth quarter and matched that tally across the two overtime periods, capping his night with a pair of pivotal free throws in the final seconds that sealed the result for the Thunder.
For the Rockets, Alperen Şengün delivered a dominant performance, registering a double-double with 39 points and 11 rebounds, the highest individual output of the match. Teammate Kevin Durant added 23 points to the effort. On the Thunder side, Chet Holmgren made a significant contribution, scoring 28 points to support Gilgeous-Alexander’s total of 35 points.
Statistics Snapshot
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alperen Şengün | Houston Rockets | 39 | 11 |
| Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | 23 | 9 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 35 | 5 |
| Chet Holmgren | Oklahoma City Thunder | 28 | 7 |
