SportyTV | Gilgeous-Alexander's late free throws lift Thunder over Rockets in double-OT thriller

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a thrilling 125-124 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night in the NBA season opener.

Last season’s scoring champion had just five points at halftime but finished with 35 on 12-of-26 shooting to go with five rebounds and five assists.

Kevin Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with the Rockets leading 124-123 in the second extra period and the crowd cheered gleefully as Durant exited the game with his sixth personal foul. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws for the decisive points. Houston's Jabari Smith Jr. missed a 19-foot baseline jumper as time expired, and the Thunder survived.

Thunder fans still haven’t forgiven Durant for leaving the Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors, their biggest rival, back in 2016. Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds in his first game with Houston after being traded in the offseason. He was booed loudly during pregame starter introductions and that continued for much of the game.

Chet Holmgren added 28 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder. Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, a first-time All-Star last season, sat out as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury he sustained last season. He had surgery on July 1, and coach Mark Daigneault said he is “progressing.”

Alperen Sengun, a first-time All-Star last season, had 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s short jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter tied the game at 104. Sengun missed a fadeaway at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

Game won pic.twitter.com/KBDoyqJWqK
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 22, 2025

Warriors survive Doncic’s 43 in win

Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Stephen Curry added 23 and the Golden State Warriors overcame Luka Doncic’s 43-point performance to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 119-109 in both teams' season opener.

LeBron James missed a season opener for the first time in his 23 years in the NBA, watching from the Lakers' bench. The top scorer in league history has sciatica that is expected to sideline him until mid-November.

Jonathan Kuminga scored 17 points while the Warriors largely shut down the Lakers apart from Doncic, who scored 40 points for the 47th time in his NBA career and the third since joining the Lakers.

Doncic added 12 rebounds and nine assists in his first season opener with the Lakers, but the Slovenian superstar was 2 of 10 on 3-point attempts as Los Angeles lost its season opener for the ninth time in 10 years.

Curry began his 17th season with just three 3-pointers while ceding major offensive roles to Kuminga and Buddy Hield, who hit five 3-pointers.

Butler made all 16 of his free throws, and Curry hit a long 3-pointer in the final minute for his first points of the fourth quarter.

Austin Reaves scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter after struggling with foul trouble.