OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant blamed himself for a Houston Rockets debut gone awry Tuesday, because the defending champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder bested his new membership, 125-124, in double extra time at Paycom Heart.

“I missed the free throws, and I fouled any individual on the finish,” Durant mentioned. “I feel these two performs are the explanation we misplaced.”

On the night time Oklahoma Metropolis celebrated its NBA title with a hoop ceremony and raised a championship banner to the rafters, Durant scored 23 factors on 9-of-16 capturing and dedicated two essential errors that he believes value Houston the sport earlier than fouling out with 2.3 seconds remaining. The Rockets led 124-123 with 11 seconds left within the second extra time interval when a pump faux by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lured Durant into his sixth foul, which despatched the reigning MVP to the free-throw line to hit the profitable free throws.

“Fouled Shai, put them up one,” Durant mentioned. “I’ve obtained to remain down, be extra disciplined [with] these alternatives to get a cease to seal the sport.”

The play marked what Durant may think about the second squandered alternative to stroll out of a sold-out area victorious. With 9.5 seconds left in regulation, Durant missed the primary of two free throws with the Rockets main 103-102. Durant related on the second free throw to place Houston forward by 2 factors, however Gilgeous-Alexander hit a 16-footer with 2.6 ticks left on the clock to ship the sport into extra time.

Disaster for Durant and the Rockets almost unfolded within the first extra time interval, too. The 37-year-old snatched a rebound with 2.2 seconds remaining and signaled for a timeout that Houston didn’t possess as teammate Alperen Sengun ran over to cease him. The play resulted in a cascade of boos from a crowd of 18,203. A postgame pool report revealed that referees didn’t whistle Durant for a technical foul on the play as a result of not one of the sport officers noticed the ahead sign for the timeout, in line with crew chief Zach Zarba.

“I feel undoubtedly he known as timeout about 3 times — verbally and bodily along with his fingers,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “I feel the refs simply missed it, however that’s life. You make errors in life, and you progress on. Nothing too loopy. They didn’t do it on function or something. It’s simply life. You miss issues. You make errors. You progress on.”

Regardless of a tough debut, Durant flashed a glimpse of what Houston’s offense may very well be down the street as soon as the Rockets iron out among the wrinkles. Durant shot 5 of 6 on two-point jumpers on Tuesday for a crew that skilled just one occasion final season of a participant hitting 5 or extra of his 2-point bounce pictures in a sport. All of Durant’s made 2-point discipline targets got here throughout the closing 8 seconds of the shot clock, in line with GeniusIQ, tying for his most such makes in a sport since 2013-14, when participant monitoring started.

When Houston wanted to generate a strong look with the shot clock winding down, it made positive to search out Durant.

“He’s making our jobs straightforward,” Sengun mentioned. “With [more] time we’re going to get higher and higher collectively.”

Durant managed to inflict his injury in an offense that was largely facilitated by Sengun, who made a career-high 5 three pointers, scoring a game-high 39 factors with 11 rebounds and a team-high 7 assists.

“It’s unimaginable,” Durant mentioned of Sengun’s efficiency. “We’re gonna want that from him as a lot as we will. Getting downhill, making performs. There was quite a lot of house for him on the market, too, on the high of the important thing the place he likes to work. So, [it’s] one thing that he’s obtained to get used to with simply having a lot room to function now. So, he knocked down the three properly, shot it with confidence. We’re gonna want that going ahead.”

Houston trotted out a beginning unit towards the Thunder that stood a mean peak of 82.2 inches, registering because the tallest group of starters in an opener since 1970-71, when starters had been first tracked, in line with Elias Sports activities Bureau.

Durant began at guard for the primary time since 2009 alongside Amen Thompson, who was hobbled late towards OKC by cramps in his calf, in line with Rockets coach Ime Udoka. The lineup additionally featured Jabari Smith Jr. and Sengun at ahead with Steven Adams enjoying middle.

“We make performs as a crew,” Durant mentioned. “I’m not anticipated to make each huge shot in each shut sport. I simply really feel like my presence on the market can ease the strain for everyone and we will make performs. Some nights, it’s going to be my night time within the fourth. Some nights, it’s going to be Alpi’s. So, all of us simply have to arrange for it.”