Champion OKC starts the new NBA season with an extremely peculiar game
German basketball star Isaiah Hartenstein and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder started the new NBA season with a dramatic victory. Against the Houston Rockets, OKC won 125:124 after double overtime on Wednesday night, demonstrating great comeback qualities.
Center Hartenstein scored six points and nine rebounds in nearly 37 minutes of playing time – more than any other player from the 2024/25 season champion. Despite poor three-point percentage, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was OKC’s best shooter.
Isaiah Hartenstein (r.) wins with the Oklahoma City Thunder
The previous year’s MVP, who saved Oklahoma three seconds before the end of regular playing time (104:104) into overtime, scored 35 points. The 27-year-old Canadian decided the match two seconds before the end of the second overtime with two converted free throws.
OKC wins after double overtime
For the Rockets, Alperen Sengün, who was Turkey’s best shooter in the lost European Championship final against Germany in September, contributed 39 points. Superstar Kevin Durant, who switched from the Phoenix Suns to Houston before the start of the 80th NBA season, scored 23 points.
After a good start, Oklahoma lost control of the game. Houston pulled away, and at the beginning of the third quarter, the Rockets were temporarily ahead by twelve points. However, Oklahoma managed to equalize just before the final buzzer. In the first overtime, OKC gave up a six-point lead, but ultimately achieved the desired opening victory.