Thunder instantly cement repeat odds with emphatic opening statement

What a win for OKC!
Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

In the first game with the targets on the Oklahoma City Thunder's back as the defending champions, they beat the Rockets in double overtime, 125-124. The Thunder were down by double digits in the third quarter, but thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's late-game heroics, OKC powered back to win game one of 82.

The story of the first quarter wasn't SGA, but Chet Holmgren, who scored the Thunder's first seven points and 11 of their first 13. Gilgeous-Alexander didn't make his first shot until there were over four minutes left to play in the first quarter. Ajay Mitchell finished the first half with nearly double the number of shot attempts (nine) as SGA (five).

Gilgeous-Alexander came up clutch, though. In what wasn't his best night, he still finished with 35 points on 12-of-26 shooting from the field, 1-of-9 shooting from three, and 10-of-14 shooting from the free-throw line. He scored 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the fourth quarter and two overtime periods.

He was the Thunder's leading scorer, followed by Holmgren, who finished with 28 points after fouling out in overtime. Mitchell, 16 points, and Aaron Wiggins, 10 points, both scored in double-digits off the bench. Alex Caruso had eight points, along with three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block.

Everyone already knew who OKC was entering opening night, but for those who thought there was a chance the Thunder would get a little too comfortable after winning a title, night one proved the opposite.

Thunder storm back to get double-overtime win over Rockets

OKC staying within striking range of Houston, even with the reigning MVP struggling through the first three quarters, was a testament to how deep a team they are. They added Mitchell to the mix over the summer, and they still have a treasure chest of assets they can use to draft more young talent.

Don't forget that the Thunder were without Jalen Williams, who is still recovering from offseason wrist surgery. The Rockets were without Fred VanVleet, who tore his ACL over the summer. Oklahoma City entered the game as the favorite, but Houston is a different team than it was last season now that it has Kevin Durant. He's the go-to scorer they needed.

The Thunder getting that kind of win on night one in what could go down as the game of the season should scare the rest of the league even more. OKC looks like a team that will beat the no-repeat streak.

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