Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points after the third quarter to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Houston Rockets in the NBA's 2025 season opener.
The reigning regular season and NBA Finals MVP netted 11 points through the first three quarters of the 125-124 double-overtime triumph Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
He poured in a dozen in the fourth, five in the first overtime and seven over the final five minutes. He also chipped in five assists, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
"We did enough defensively to get a win," Gilgeous-Alexander said on the ESPN broadcast. "First win of the season, we were pretty rusty, but it's a good start."
The Thunder and Rockets each made about 44% of their shots. The game featured 22 lead changes and was tied a dozen times. The Thunder, who trailed by as many as a dozen points, outscored the Rockets 50-44 in the paint, 16-2 off fast breaks and 36-24 off the bench.
