The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0) came back from 12 down and survived the Houston Rockets (0-1) in double overtime with an intense 125-124 victory on October 22.
Here are the key stats and the top performers from the game.
BEST PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC PG 35 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 57.5 FPS
SGA had a rough start, scoring only 5 points and committing 3 turnovers in the first half. However, he picked it up in the fourth quarter, pouring in 14 points, including the clutch shot that forced the game into OT. His outside shooting continued to be an issue, shooting 1-for-9 from three but he remained reliable at the free-throw line, finishing 10-of-14.
TOP SCORERS:
Kevin Durant HOU PF 23 PTS | 9-16 FG | 5-6 FT | 34.3 FPS
KD nearly recorded a double-double in his Rockets debut, but his offense wasn’t at its best, going 0-for-4 from three-point range and tying the team with the most turnovers.
Chet Holmgren OKC C 28 PTS | 11-17 FG | 4-4 FT | 36.4 FPS
Holmgren started hot, scoring 13 of the Thunder’s first 15 points in the opening quarter. Last season, he scored 28 or more points only once — also against the Rockets.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE:
Alperen Sengun HOU C 39 PTS | 11 REB | 7 AST | 67.7 FPS
Sengun opened the new season with a bang, nearly dropping 40 points on 50% shooting from the field. He also showed huge improvement with his outside shooting, going 5-for-8, and was excellent at the line, hitting 10 of 11 free throws. He led the game in scoring and also in playmaking with seven assists.
DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST:
Cason Wallace OKC SG 14 PTS | 7 REB | 4 STL | 39.9 FPS
Wallace led the game in steals and also tied for the second-most rebounds on the team. Last season, he also led the team in steals, averaging 1.8 per game.
THE X-FACTOR:
Ajay Mitchell OKC SG 16 PTS | 2 REB | 2 AST | 24.4 FPS
Mitchell stepped up in the second quarter, scoring 12 points, including hitting 3 three-pointers, to help keep the team into the game.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Jabari Smith Jr. HOU PF 16 PTS | 5 REB | 1 STL | 25.0 FPS
Smith Jr. had a solid offensive performance, shooting 7-for-15 from the field. Last season, he averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds, but consistency has been an issue.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE GAME:
Tari Eason HOU PF 3 PTS | 1-6 FG | 3 TO
Eason had a rough start to the season. Last year, he was a force on the defensive end, averaging 6.4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 1.7 steals in 57 games.
