Thunder See Off Durant’s Rockets In Double-ot After Raising Nba Title Banner

Thunder fans sewage everything they wanted connected Tuesday — a ringing ceremony, a title banner unveiling and a triumph complete ex-Oklahoma City prima Kevin Durant and nan Houston Rockets.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, nan reigning MVP, deed 2 free throws pinch 2.3 seconds remaining successful nan 2nd overtime to springiness nan Thunder a 125-124 win. Last season’s scoring champion had conscionable 5 points astatine halftime but vanished pinch 35.

Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander pinch nan Rockets starring 124-123 successful nan 2nd other period. The crowd shouted gleefully arsenic Durant exited nan crippled pinch his sixth individual foul. Gilgeous-Alexander made some free throws for nan decisive points. Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr missed a 19-foot jumper arsenic clip expired, and nan Thunder survived successful nan play opener for some teams.

Thunder fans still haven’t forgiven Durant for leaving nan Thunder to subordinate nan Golden State Warriors, their biggest rival, backmost successful 2016. Durant had 23 points and 9 rebounds successful his first crippled pinch Houston aft being traded successful nan offseason. He was booed loudly during pregame starter introductions and that continued for overmuch of nan game.

Chet Holmgren added 28 points and 7 rebounds for nan Thunder. Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, a first-time All-Star past season, sat retired arsenic he continues to retrieve from a correct wrist wounded he sustained past season. He had room connected 1 July, and coach Mark Daigneault said he is “progressing”.

Alperen Şengün had 39 points and 11 rebounds for nan Rockets.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s short jumper pinch 2.1 seconds remaining successful nan 4th fourth tied nan crippled astatine 104. Şengün missed a fadeaway astatine nan buzzer to nonstop nan crippled into overtime.

With nan people tied astatine 115 successful nan closing seconds of nan first overtime, Gilgeous-Alexander missed and Durant rebounded and tried to telephone a timeout that nan Rockets didn’t have. The Thunder noticed and tried to alert nan officials, but nary telephone was made and nan crippled went to a 2nd overtime.

The Rockets sojourn nan Detroit Pistons connected Friday.

The Thunder sojourn nan Indiana Pacers connected Thursday successful a rematch of past season’s NBA finals bid nan Thunder won successful 7 games.