Thunder’s MVP escapes slow start to drop 35 points in double-OT championship banner opener

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t thinking about symbolism as the clock ticked down in the second overtime of Tuesday night’s season opener against the Houston Rockets. His sole focus was finding a way to score the winning points, not dwelling on the fact that Kevin Durant was defending him in the deciding moments of a thrilling opener that probably wasn’t lost on the Paycom Center sellout crowd.

That crowd spent the entire night booing Durant and celebrating Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder teammates after finally watching a championship banner raised to the rafters. The reigning MVP was just trying to get to a shot he’s comfortable taking in those moments, his brain so locked in that he didn’t even realize the narrative playing out around him.

Gilgeous-Alexander drew the foul that won it

Instead of creating a clean look, Gilgeous-Alexander got Durant to bite on a pump fake and fouled him. The reigning MVP sank both free throws with 2.3 seconds left, capping a 35-point performance to lift the defending champions to a 125-124 victory. Gilgeous-Alexander also spoiled Durant’s debut with the Rockets, his fourth team since his free agency departure from Oklahoma City that remains a sore subject more than nine years later.

He described the pregame championship ceremony as surreal. Durant and the Rockets retreated to the visitors locker room while the Thunder received their championship rings—featuring more than 800 custom-cut, hand-set diamonds and gemstones—before raising the banner alongside the center scoreboard. It felt like the banner was going up for 10 minutes, an amazing moment Gilgeous-Alexander will remember for the rest of his life.

Houston’s defense made Gilgeous-Alexander struggle early

It took Shai Gilgeous-Alexander most of the game finding rhythm against the Rockets’ supersized, swarming, physical defense that prioritized forcing the ball out of his hands as much as possible. His All-NBA co-star Jalen Williams watched from the bench while recovering from offseason wrist surgery, leaving Gilgeous-Alexander without his usual running mate.

Houston held Gilgeous-Alexander to five points in the first half—fewer than any of his halftime totals from last season when he led the league averaging 32.7 points per game. Power forward Chet Holmgren scored 18 of his 28 points in the first half, keeping the Thunder within striking distance despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s uncharacteristically quiet start.

Gilgeous-Alexander managed only five field goal attempts in the first two quarters, committing three turnovers and dishing just one assist despite repeatedly passing out of double-teams. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his star for staying in the game despite an imperfect night, understanding the 48-minute and 82-game nature of basketball where perfection isn’t always achievable.

The fourth quarter turned everything around

Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t find any groove until the fourth quarter, after Oklahoma City trailed by as many as 12 points. He scored 12 points in that quarter—one more than he had in the first three quarters combined—highlighted by a tough midrange pull-up jumper over tight All-Defensive stopper Amen Thompson to tie the score with three seconds remaining.

As the game progressed, coverages naturally got looser, allowing Gilgeous-Alexander to get downhill and reach his spots more easily. He finished 12-of-26 from the field but struggled mightily from three-point range at 1-of-9, showing he won this game through grit and clutch execution rather than efficiency.

Two overtimes showcased Gilgeous-Alexander’s greatness

Gilgeous-Alexander added 12 more points across both overtime periods. He had a chance winning it on the final possession of the first overtime, but Houston’s Tari Eason got a piece of his baseline jumper. In the second overtime, Gilgeous-Alexander scored five points in the final minute as Oklahoma City closed the door on the Rockets.

Thunder forward Alex Caruso summed it up perfectly: you can’t hold down great players all game. Houston did a job for a while, but Gilgeous-Alexander still ended up with 35 points on a slow night. That’s just who he is.

Gilgeous-Alexander became only the third reigning MVP recording at least 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a season opener, joining Stephen Curry in 2015 and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. He also added two blocks and two steals while making multiple clutch defensive plays.

Gilgeous-Alexander admitted he needs to be better, that the Thunder need to be better than what they showed. The team will improve in a few months, and he fully believes they’ll use this night as a learning experience. It was ugly, but he’d rather have ugly in a win than a loss.