Thunder start season with back-to-back double-OT wins

Oklahoma City’s season-opening stretch was a marquee reminder of last year’s title run as the defending champion Thunder survived two back-to-back double-overtime thrillers, beating the Houston Rockets 125-124 at Paycom Center on Oct. 22 and topping the Indiana Pacers 141-135 in Indianapolis on Oct. 24. Guard Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander paced both victories, scoring 35 in the opener and a career‑high 55 in the rematch of last season’s NBA Finals.

The Thunder received championship rings and raised their banner before the opener, then were pushed to the limit by Houston’s revamped lineup. Alperen Şengün scored 39 and Kevin Durant, making his Rockets debut in Oklahoma City, finished with 23 points, but Gilgeous‑Alexander drew a crucial foul on Durant in the second overtime and sank the two free throws that sealed the win. Two nights later in Indianapolis, Gilgeous‑Alexander poured in 55 points, converting 23 of 26 free throws and adding eight rebounds and five assists as Oklahoma City outlasted a shorthanded Pacers squad that featured big scoring nights from Bennedict Mathurin and Pascal Siakam.

Those results made history: Oklahoma City became the first team to go to double overtime in...