Thunder Launch Title Defense with Dramatic Overtime Victory
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joined the Thunder back in 2019.
The Thunder's star player scored the game-winning points late in double overtime as the defending champions opened their championship campaign with a narrow win over the Houston Rockets.
The reigning MVP scored a team-high 35 points, including two from the free-throw line with just 2.3 seconds left in double OT, securing the champions a winning beginning.
The Rockets' big man top-scored with 39 points and also connected on a career-high five shots from beyond the arc.
But the Thunder's rookie, who added 28 points of his own, played a major role together with the game's hero.
"Grit and defense," Gilgeous-Alexander commented of their showing. "We know that when we execute defensively we give ourselves a opportunity no matter what's going on—makes, misses, good luck or misfortune. We did enough defence to get the win. We're pretty rusty, but it's a positive beginning."
Before the tip-off, Oklahoma's championship banner was raised at their arena, while the squad were awarded their title rings.
The Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in last season's best-of-seven NBA Finals. It was their maiden championship since the team relocated in 2008 to Oklahoma City from Seattle, who had claimed the 1979 title.
Indiana will have the opportunity to get some early revenge on this Friday when they face Oklahoma, while the Houston are back on court on the identical day at the Detroit Pistons.
In other action, a massive effort of 43 points, 12 boards and nine dimes from Luka Doncic was not enough to stop his current team the Los Angeles Lakers from falling to a 119-109 loss against the Golden State Warriors.
Jimmy Butler scored 31 points and Golden State's sharpshooter chipped in 23 for the visiting Warriors.
The Lakers were without the NBA's all-time leading scorer James as he is recovering from sciatica.
