OKLAHOMA CITY — The symbolism didn’t strike Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander within the second because the clock ticked down within the second additional time of Tuesday night time’s season opener in opposition to the Houston Rockets.
His sole focus was on making an attempt to determine a option to rating the successful factors, not on the very fact Kevin Durant was defending him. The famous person matchup within the deciding moments of an exciting season opener most likely wasn’t misplaced on the Paycom Heart sellout crowd, which spent the night time booing Durant and celebrating Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder teammates after lastly watching a championship banner raised to the rafters.
“Simply making an attempt to get to a shot I’m comfy capturing in these moments,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “My mind is so within the second that each one these issues I don’t even understand.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, as a substitute of making a clear look, bought Durant to chew on a pump pretend and foul him. The reigning MVP sank each free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining, capping a 35-point efficiency to elevate the defending champions to a 125-124 win. Gilgeous-Alexander additionally spoiled Durant’s debut with the Rockets, his fourth crew since his free company departure from the Thunder that’s nonetheless a sore topic in Oklahoma Metropolis greater than 9 years later.
Gilgeous-Alexander described the pregame ceremony to have fun final season’s championship as “surreal.” Durant and the Rockets retreated to the guests’ locker room because the Thunder acquired their championship rings — that includes greater than 800 custom-cut, hand-set diamonds and gems — earlier than elevating the championship banner alongside the middle scoreboard.
“It felt prefer it was going up for 10 minutes,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “It was an incredible second. I’ll bear in mind it for the remainder of my life.”
It took Gilgeous-Alexander many of the sport to discover a rhythm in opposition to the supersized Rockets’ swarming, bodily protection, which prioritized forcing the ball out of his palms as a lot as doable whereas his All-NBA co-star, Jalen Williams, watched from the bench whereas recovering from offseason wrist surgical procedure.
Houston held Gilgeous-Alexander to 5 factors within the first half, fewer than any of his halftime totals from final season, when he led the league with 32.7 factors per sport. Energy ahead/heart Chet Holmgren scored 18 of his 28 factors within the first half to maintain the Thunder inside hanging distance regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander’s uncharacteristically quiet begin.
Gilgeous-Alexander managed to try solely 5 photographs from the ground within the first two quarters, committing three turnovers and shelling out just one help regardless of repeatedly passing out of double groups.
“He simply stays within the sport,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “It wasn’t an ideal night time for him, however he simply stays in it. He understands the 48-minute nature. He understands the 82-game nature. It’s not all the time going to be good. And tonight wasn’t good for us collectively. And the blokes simply form of performed the following play, by no means misplaced our focus or resolve.”
It wasn’t till the fourth quarter — after Oklahoma Metropolis trailed by as many as 12 factors — that Gilgeous-Alexander discovered any kind of groove. He had 12 factors in that quarter, yet one more than he had within the first three quarters mixed, highlighted by a tricky midrange pull-up jumper over a decent contest by All-Defensive stopper Amen Thompson to tie the rating with three seconds remaining.
“As the sport went on, naturally the coverages bought looser,” mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander, who was 12-of-26 from the ground however solely 1-of-9 from 3-point vary. “I used to be in a position to get downhill and to my spots a bit of bit.”
Gilgeous-Alexander added 12 extra factors within the two additional time durations. He had an opportunity to win it on the ultimate possession of the primary additional time, however Houston’s Tari Eason bought a chunk of the ball on his baseline jumper. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 5 factors within the closing minute as Oklahoma Metropolis got here again and closed the door.
“You’ll be able to’t maintain down nice gamers all sport,” Oklahoma Metropolis ahead Alex Caruso mentioned. “You are able to do a job for some time. I believe he nonetheless ended up with 35, and he had a sluggish night time. That’s simply him.”
In line with ESPN Analysis, Gilgeous-Alexander grew to become solely the third reigning MVP to report at the very least 35 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists within the season opener, becoming a member of Stephen Curry in 2015 and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. Gilgeous-Alexander additionally had two blocks and two steals, making a number of clutch defensive performs.
“I should be higher,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “We should be higher than what we simply did. We’re going to be a greater crew in a number of months, however I absolutely consider this crew will use tonight as a studying expertise. … It was ugly tonight, however I’d quite it’s ugly in a win than a loss for certain.”