(Oklahoma City) Return 80e NBA season took off in spectacular fashion on Tuesday: reigning champions, the Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets 125-124 after two overtimes, in Oklahoma City.
Ontarian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored with 2.3 seconds remaining, hitting the target with two free throws.
It completed a 35-point night for the Hamilton athlete.
Scoring champion, most valuable player of the circuit and most valuable player of the final, in June, the Canadian also collected five assists, five rebounds, two interceptions and two blocks.
OKC was able to start the defense of its title on the right foot, notably overcoming Alperen Sengun’s 39 points.
Chet Holmgren backed SGA with 28 points and seven rebounds.
Ajay Mitchell surprised with 16 points, two more than Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins also reached the 10-point mark.
Wallace added four interceptions.
Montreal’s Luguentz Dort had six points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal, among some brilliant defensive plays.
PHOTO ALONZO ADAMS, IMAGN IMAGES PAR REUTERS CONNECT
Luguentz there
Star player Jalen Williams was missing, injured in his right wrist.
The Thunder were also without Isaiah Joe and Kenrich Williams, who suffered left knee injuries.
Besides Sengun, Kevin Durant also caused headaches for the Thunder, taking 23 points.
The Rockets’ last chance was a shot that fell too far from Jabari Smith, who was well covered by Jaylin Williams.
Before the game: rings and banner of NBA champions
PHOTO NATE BILLINGS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Oklahoma City Thunder pose in front of the 2024-2025 NBA Champions banner
Winners of the NBA Finals in June, the Thunder players received their champion rings before the match.
Commissioner Adam Silver first presented the precious rings to owner Clay Bennett, general manager Sam Presti and head coach Mark Daigneault.
Among the players, the penultimate to receive his ring was Dort.
Then it was Gilgeous-Alexander’s turn, as the crowd chanted “M-VP!” »
A video celebrating the Thunder’s 2024-25 season was then shown on the giant screen.
SGA thanked the crowd for their support, then the champions’ banner was raised aloft at the Paycom Center.
In June, OKC beat the Indiana Pacers in the final, including Quebecer Bennedict Mathurin, also from Montreal North.
The Thunder prevailed in seven games, earning their first title in their history.
Last season, Mark Daigneault’s group dominated the league with a 68-14 record.
The Thunder dismissed Memphis in four games, Denver in seven and Minnesota in five, before beating the Pacers.
SGA was the regular season scoring champion (32.7), campaign MVP and Finals MVP.
Dort set a career high for three-point shooting percentage and was named to the league’s first all-star team on defense.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren agreed to contract extensions this offseason.
In July, the Rockets obtained Durant from the Phoenix Suns in July.
The 37-year-old signed a contract extension last weekend.
Last season, Durant became the eighth player in history to reach the milestone of 30,000 career points.
OKC prevailed despite a 13-for-52 night on three-pointers (25%).
The Thunder will play their next game Thursday in Indiana (7:30 p.m., Sportsnet One).
