The opening game went into double overtime, yet the champion remains the champion.

In the season opener, Durant’s move to a new team set up a high-profile matchup against his old team and defending champions, the Thunder. The stakes were high, and the contest was intense. Both sides fought through to double overtime, with the Rockets running out of steam and the Thunder showing all their skills.

The Rockets were missing VanVleet, and the Thunder lacked Jewell, but the absence hurt the Rockets more significantly. VanVleet’s absence directly altered the Rockets’ offensive strategy; their usual five-man pick-and-roll system disappeared, forcing the offense to rely heavily on isolation plays or Durant to create solutions.

In the first half, the Rockets held the advantage. Starting with Amen, Shengjin, Durant, Little J, and Adams — a lineup featuring one 2.01m player and four 2.11m players — the Rockets’ tall formation caused the Thunder some defensive troubles.

However, the Rockets’ bench rotation couldn’t match the Thunder’s intensity. Especially when Shepherd came on, it was obvious he was the weakest defender on the court. The Thunder exploited this by easily bypassing him, making him a pure scoring target.

It became clear that preseason and regular-season games are two different levels, especially against a championship-caliber team like the Thunder. Shepherd’s performance was far from adequate — scoring 9 points on 3-for-11 shooting, while allowing even more points on defense.

Udoka benched Shepherd in overtime, but after Amen cramped up, he had no choice but to put Shepherd back in. His careless turnover on Durant’s alley-oop pass was highly irresponsible and arguably shifted the momentum in overtime.

This Rockets lineup still maintained the key factors behind last season’s success — solid defense, aggression, and creating extra offensive chances. Today, they grabbed 16 offensive rebounds again. Between the 46th and 55th minute, Durant hit three consecutive mid-range jumpers and assisted Shengjin on a three-pointer, marking the most impactful offensive stretch for Durant.

The Thunder quickly adjusted to the Rockets’ intensity. In the second half, they started Caruso instead of Harten, increasing pressure on off-ball players and limiting Durant and Shengjin’s touches — a classic Thunder defensive tactic. Alexander, who only took five shots in the first half, began to show his teeth.

Alexander scored 12 points in the final quarter, including a clutch jump shot to tie the game after Durant missed two free throws. In the fourth quarter, he nailed all three mid-range shots near the free-throw line, showing remarkable composure. Across both overtimes, he scored 12 points, including eight free throws in the second overtime. His final free throw buzzer-beater maximized his offensive threat and forced Durant out of position.

Alexander finished the game shooting 12-for-26 from the field, 1-for-9 from three, and 10-for-14 at the line, tallying 35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Honestly, he wasn’t necessarily at his best, missing many shots, but when it mattered most, his mid-range shooting and ability to draw fouls were unstoppable.

Durant’s debut with the Rockets, strictly speaking, was a bit of a mess. He scored 23 points and grabbed 9 rebounds on 9-for-16 shooting, which is still efficient, but he was largely invisible for much of the second half, partly due to lack of passes. He went 0-for-4 from three, which is uncharacteristic for him.

Durant made three costly mistakes at critical moments. Late in the fourth quarter, he drew a foul but only made 1 of 2 free throws, setting up Alexander’s game-tying jumper. At the end of the first overtime, after Alexander missed a jumper, Durant grabbed the rebound and immediately called a timeout.

However, the Rockets had no timeouts left. If Durant’s timeout had been granted, it would have resulted in a technical foul, giving the Thunder a chance to win the game at the line. Shengjin quickly stopped Durant from calling the timeout, and the Thunder protested this action. Fortunately, the referees let it slide, allowing the game to proceed to a second overtime.

In the second overtime, Durant committed three fouls, including the one that allowed Alexander to tie the game. It’s rare to see Durant defend so intensely, but in this case, he overdid it. The Rockets had already trapped Alexander, so Durant could have been less aggressive.

Because of the double overtime, Durant played 45 minutes and was visibly exhausted in his first game with the Rockets. This team definitely needs Durant to provide more tough solutions to their offensive issues; his days won’t be easy moving forward.

Shengjin fully showcased his offensive improvements during the offseason. Last season, he made 21 three-pointers total, and today he went 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, bringing his EuroBasket shooting accuracy to the NBA stage.

Shengjin finished with 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists on 12-for-24 shooting and 10-for-11 at the line. His dominance both beyond the arc and in the paint was impressive, though he missed too many mid-range shots. Without guard cooperation, penetrating inside is tougher, making his development as a long-range shooter crucial.

As for Amen’s performance today, he gave his best but wasn’t outstanding. He contributed on both ends but went 0-for-7 from three and committed 4 turnovers, which stood out. Without a reliable outside shot, his effectiveness in high-level games is limited.

Overall, this is a loss the Rockets can fully accept. The new lineup is still gelling, and they are still experimenting with Shepherd. Taking the defending champions to double overtime before losing is not exactly a defeat to be ashamed of, and can be considered an acceptable outcome.

As for the Thunder, they remain the biggest contenders for the championship this season. Until the champion falls, they are still the champion.