Thunder celebrate ring ceremony,
banner unveiling and double-OT win over Durant's Rockets
[October 22, 2025]
By CLIFF BRUNT
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder fans got everything they wanted on
Tuesday — a ring ceremony, a championship banner unveiling and a win
over ex-Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, hit two free throws with
2.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the Thunder a
125-124 win. It was just the sixth time an opening night went to
double overtime and the first time since 2005.
Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s scoring champion, had just five
points at halftime but finished with 35.
Thunder fans still haven’t forgiven Durant for leaving the Thunder
in 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors, their biggest rival at
the time. Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds in his first game
with Houston after being traded in the offseason. He was booed
loudly during pregame starter introductions, and that continued for
much of the game.
Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with the Rockets leading 124-123 in
the second extra period. The crowd cheered as Durant exited the game
with his sixth personal foul. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free
throws for the decisive points. Houston's Jabari Smith Jr. missed a
19-foot jumper as time expired, and the Thunder survived in the
season opener for both teams.
Chet Holmgren added 28 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder.
Ajay Mitchell added 16 points, including a four-point play with one
second left in the first half.
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, a first-time All-Star last season,
sat out as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury he
sustained last season. He had surgery on July 1, and coach Mark
Daigneault said he is “progressing.”
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Houston
Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) chase the ball during the first half
of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City.
(AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Alperen Sengun had 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the
Rockets. He made a career-high five 3-pointers.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s short jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining in the
fourth quarter tied the game at 104. Sengun missed a fadeaway at the
buzzer to send the game into overtime.
With the score tied at 115 in the closing seconds of the first
overtime, Gilgeous-Alexander missed and Durant rebounded and tried
to call a timeout that the Rockets didn’t have. The Thunder noticed
and tried to alert the officials, but no call was made and the game
went to a second overtime. Crew chief Zach Zarba said after the game
that none of the three officials saw Durant call the timeout, so it
was not granted.
Up next
The Rockets visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
The Thunder visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in a rematch of
last season’s NBA Finals series the Thunder won in seven games.
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