NBA Western Conference top performers
The NBA Western Conference has always been deep, with several teams expected to rise to the top in 2025-26.
The Oklahoma City Thunder needed extra time to rally and defeat the Houston Rockets 125-124 in double overtime at Paycom Center on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
This is the sixth time in NBA history that the league’s opening night game went to double overtime.
The Thunder played in reverse for most of the game, with the Rockets leading in the first three quarters.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was limited to 11 points through the first three quarters of play, but the reigning MVP exploded in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his 23 points. He scored 12 points in overtime, including two clutch free throws in the final seconds of the game.
He also hit a 25-foot 3-pointer with 3:36 left in the first overtime, giving the Thunder a 6-2 run to extend their lead to 110-104, their largest lead of the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Sander’s performances kept both the team and the fans celebrating “Ring Night” and the positive emotions the fanbase had going into the game.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from the 2025-26 NBA season opener between the defending champion Thunder and Rockets.
Alperen Sengan’s layup off an assist from Kevin Durant gave the Rockets a 124-123 lead in the final seconds of the second overtime. This was supposed to be the winning shot, but Kevin Durant was ejected for a foul, forcing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the line.
The Thunder star made a pair of clutch free throws, but the defense needed to make a stop at the other end before sealing the victory.
The Thunder went on a 6-2 run to take a 110-104 lead and took their largest lead of the game when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a 25-foot 3-pointer with 3:36 left in overtime.
The Rockets tied the game with a dunk by Alperen Sengan with 8.8 seconds left in the period. For the Rockets, Sengan had 35 points and Kevin Durant had 20 points.
Chet Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 28 points for the Thunder.
Kevin Durant missed the first of two free throws in the final minute of regulation for the Rockets. They missed a chance to take a three-point lead, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came down the other end and hit a jumper to tie the score at 104 with two seconds left.
Gilgeous-Alexander came back to life, scoring 12 of his 23 total points in the final period of regulation.
The game goes into overtime.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave the Thunder their first lead since 6:54 left in the second quarter. The reigning MVP hit an 18-foot stepback jump shot with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter to give OKC a 102-101 lead.
The Thunder trailed for most of the game, but Isaiah Hartenstein cut into the Rockets’ lead and made a chip shot for Oklahoma City, making it a two-point lead. With 3:07 left in the fourth quarter, the Rockets led the Thunder 97-95.
According to NBC’s Mike Tirico, tonight the Thunder came within three points against the Rockets on seven different occasions.
The Rockets were able to maintain a lead against the Thunder until the first quarter.
Alperen Sengun was the Rockets’ leading scorer with 22 points. Kevin Durant added 17 points. OKC was held scoreless in the third quarter after Chet Holmgren scored 18 points in the first half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 11 points.
Kevin Durant had 14 points and 5 rebounds for the Rockets in the first half. He made 6-of-11 shots from the field and 0-of-2 from the 3-point line in 20 minutes of play. Armen Thompson and Alperen Shengun each scored 10 points.
Chet Holmgren had a game-high 18 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes of play. He made 7 of 9 field goals. Ajay Mitchell came off the bench for the Thunder and had 12 points and two assists in nine minutes of play.
Rockets forward Armen Thompson scored a team-high 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the first 6 minutes, 29 seconds of the first quarter. Kevin Durant made his regular season debut with the Rockets, scoring eight points in the first quarter.
Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren went 5-for-5 from the field and scored 13 points in the first quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was limited to three points on 1-of-3 field goals.
There were 11 lead changes in the quarter, with the Rockets leading by as many as four points. The Thunder led by as many as three points.
The Thunder were led by Chet Holmgren, who scored 13 of his team’s 17 points in the first quarter. He is 5-for-5 from the field. With 5:31 left in the quarter, the Rockets led the Thunder 21-17.
Armen Thompson led the Rockets with 10 points on 4-of-6 field goals. Kevin Durant scored four points from the start against his old team.
Chet Holmgren made two free throws to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a 15-14 lead against the Houston Rockets with 6:40 left in the first quarter.
Kevin Durant, Alperen Shengun, Armen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Steven Adams started the Houston Rockets’ season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
Heading into Tuesday’s season opener against the Houston Rockets, the Thunder’s starting lineup includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated the 2024-25 season in front of their home crowd on Tuesday, hoisting the organization’s second championship and first since relocating to the city.
What time does the Rockets vs. Thunder game start?
The 2025-26 NBA season opener between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder is scheduled to take place in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, October 21st at 7:30 pm ET (6:30 pm local time).
What TV channel is broadcasting Rockets vs. Thunder?
NBC will televise the Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game to open the 2025-26 NBA season.
Stream Rockets vs. Thunder on Fubo
How to watch and stream Rockets vs. Thunder
- date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- time: 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM CST)
- position: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City
- tv set: NBC
- stream: fubo, peacock
Rocket vs. Thunder latest lines and odds
All odds are via BetMGM as of Monday, October 20th.
- Spread: Thunder (-7.5)
- Money line: Thunder (-325); Rockets (+260)
- Top/Bottom: 227.5
Oklahoma City’s uniforms will be a little different for the opening game.
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