The 2025-26 NBA season has officially begun and it started with a bang. The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the new-look Houston Rockets.
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OKC wanted to defend their home court on “Ring Ceremony” night, but Houston had other plans. They wanted to begin the Kevin Durant era with a big victory.
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The game remained close throughout the first half with the Rockets remaining on top. Houston took a 57-51 lead into halftime.
The second half went down to the wire with last year’s MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, sending the game into overtime with a big jumper.
At the end of overtime, SGA had another chance for a clutch shot. This time for a win, but Houston’s Tari Eason blocked his three-point attempt.
Afterward, Kevin Durant made a rookie mistake by calling a timeout that his Rockets didn’t have. Luckily for the Rockets, the officials did not call it as time expired. This saved Houston from being hit with a technical foul.
At the end of the second overtime, the MVP redeemed himself. SGA kept attacking the hoop, getting to the free-throw line for eight attempts, making five.
The MVP scored seven in overtime, including the free throw that gave the Thunder the lead for good. SGA’s 35 points helped give OKC the 125-124 opening night victory.
As for the Rockets, Durant played well before fouling out at the end of the second overtime. KD dropped 23 points while adding nine rebounds. The star for Houston was Alperen Şengün, who scored 39 points while adding eleven rebounds.
This game was a great way to kick off the new era of NBA on NBC. It also shows how competitive the Western Conference will be this season.
