The Oklahoma City Thunder just kicked off their 2025-26 season with a hard-fought win over the Houston Rockets at Paycom Center. The win took a lot out of both teams, and though the final score shows a one-point margin, the Thunder had to claw their way through several tough stretches, especially as reining MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find his shot.

In the post-game interview, Shai said, “Grit, determination, and defense. We know that when we do it down there on that end, we give ourselves a chance any night, no matter what’s going on… We did enough defensively to get a win. First game of the season, we’re pretty rusty, but it’s a good start.”

He made it clear that regardless of what circumstances the team goes through on offense, their defense always gives them a fighting chance.

When the interviewer asked him what let him stay focused through his cold shooting stretch, Shai said, “I just had to keep attacking. Obviously, my shot wasn’t falling tonight. They were very aggressive in their coverages. That doesn’t deter me. I got to keep playing through that.”

The superstar guard highlighted aggressiveness, including his key drives, which he used to earn some free throws to help out his poor FG%.

Shai also credited his teammates for keeping the team afloat and performing. “My teammates did a great job of being available. We got a lot of open shots tonight that didn’t go in. But like always, we didn’t use it as an excuse and found a way to get a W,” he said. Thunder center Chet Holmgren kept them in the game early, putting up 18 first half points, 13 of which he scored in the first quarter.

The fourth quarter was where SGA did his most damage. With the Thunder trailing the Rockets for most of the night, the reigning NBA MVP rose to the occasion when his team needed him most. He scored 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the line, including a cold-blooded midrange jumper over Amen Thompson to tie the game at 104–104 and send it to overtime.

In the extra period, Gilgeous-Alexander stayed relentless, drilling a clutch three-pointer and piling on 12 more points. His efficiency from mid-range and ability to draw contact defined the finish- highlighted by a foul on Kevin Durant, who bit on his pump fake, sealing the Thunder’s comeback victory.

The Thunder’s win showcased the value of the mindset that Shai talked about. Even on an off shooting night, he kept his composure and kept things moving, ensuring that any missed opportunities didn’t snowball into large leads. The bench unit, particularly Ajay Mitchell (16 points) and Alex Caruso (2 steals, 1 block), helped slow down Houston’s advance, and OKC managed to grind their way out of a 12 point deficit.

A Contentious Overtime Thriller Between the Thunder and the Rockets

Even though Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder survived the Rockets on opening night, a dramatic sequence stole the spotlight at the end of the first overtime period. With the score tied at 115, Shai’s midrange shot was blocked by Houston forward Tari Eason, and Kevin Durant managed to secure the ball with 1.6 seconds left on the clock.

In the heat of the moment, Durant attempted to signal a timeout, but the rockets had none remaining, leading to a strange set of events.

According to the NBA’s rules, requesting a timeout when the team has none available results in a technical foul, giving the opposing team a change to shoot a free throw and gain possession. However, referees present at the game allowed the play to continue, to the confusion of the Thunder bench.

Center Isaiah Hartenstein and head coach Mark Daigneault were livid, voicing their frustration, but ultimately, the officials didn’t make any calls. This left the moment unresolved, and we’ll likely see a final opinion on this in the official pool report later this week.

Despite the controversy, the non-call didn’t impact the final result. The game went to double-overtime, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander iced the game at the free throw line, and Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. missed a contested 20-footer at the buzzer.

The debate over the missed call highlighted the intensity of the matchup and the thin margins that decided the result between Houston and OKC.