OKC Thunder vs Houston Rockets: double-OT epic, full player stats snapshot, timeline, and how to watch replays

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OKC Thunder vs Houston Rockets: double-OT epic, full player stats snapshot, timeline, and how to watch replays

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Opening night delivered a classic in Oklahoma City as the Thunder edged the Rockets 125–124 in double overtime on Tuesday, Oct. 21 (US). It was the first game of the new season, the Thunder’s ring night, and a statement that both teams belong in headline slots all year.

Final score and headline stats (Oct. 21)

Thunder 125, Rockets 124 — 2OT

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 35 pts, late go-ahead free throws with 2.3s left
Chet Holmgren (OKC): 28 pts, 7 reb, rim protection in crunch time before fouling out
Alperen Şengün (HOU): 39 pts, 11 reb, 5 threes (career high from deep)
Kevin Durant (HOU): 23 pts, 9 reb, fouled out in the second OT

Bench swings: OKC’s supporting cast kept possessions alive and won key 50-50s; Houston’s size and shot-making nearly stole it, led by Şengün’s interior craft and spacer threes.

Possession-by-possession timeline (UK & North America references)

Tip (UK 12:30 a.m. Wed / 7:30 p.m. ET Tue): Rockets silence the ring-night buzz with early paint touches.
Late 4Q: Houston up double digits; a missed late free throw leaves the door open. SGA hits a clutch jumper to force OT.
OT1: Thunder surge ahead; Şengün ties it with a late bucket to reach double OT.
OT2 (final minute): Trading leads. SGA draws contact and sinks two with 2.3 seconds left. Last Rockets heave falls short.
Full time: Thunder 125–124.

Box score leaders at a glance

Thunder

Points: Gilgeous-Alexander 35, Holmgren 28
Glass/defense: Holmgren changed shots all night; wings cleaned up long rebounds.
Notable absences: Key rotation pieces still ramping/rehabbing; next game should clarify minutes patterns.

Rockets

Points: Şengün 39, Durant 23
Boards: Steven Adams 13 (anchor on the glass)
Wings: Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in spacing and contests; Amen Thompson pace pressured OKC’s point-of-attack.

What the result tells us

OKC’s late-game poise travels. Even chasing the game, they manufactured two-for-one chances, drew fouls, and trusted SGA’s mid-range.
Houston’s ceiling is real. With Şengün stretching to the arc and Durant bending coverage, the half-court offense already looks playoff grade.
Foul math matters. Star foul-outs reshaped both overtimes; depth and whistle discipline will decide tight games early in the season.

Where to watch Rockets–Thunder (replay & next broadcasts)

Replay/highlights: Available through the league’s official streaming service and each team’s in-market network/app.
National re-airs: Check your national broadcast partner’s on-demand section for condensed games and extended highlights.
UK: Full replays and highlights typically post overnight on the league platform with UK rights holders carrying edits by morning.

(We avoid naming specific broadcasters/apps; check your TV guide or the league’s official app for listings in your region.)

What’s next on the schedule

Rockets: Home opener Fri, Oct. 24 — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 a.m. BST vs Detroit. Local telecast and the league’s out-of-market service will carry it where available.

Thunder: Road game Thu, Oct. 23 — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT / 12:30 a.m. BST (Fri) at Indiana. National window plus regional outlets; check listings.

Player spotlights

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): Clock-management clinic—paced the offense, hunted mid-range, perfect at the line in winning time.
Chet Holmgren (OKC): Early-season strength shows in post leverage; the trail three remains the spacing release valve.
Alperen Şengün (HOU): Expanded range warps coverages. If the five-three game holds, Houston’s playbook doubles in complexity.
Kevin Durant (HOU): Debut showed comfortable two-man action with Şengün; late foul trouble was the razor’s edge in 2OT.

Thunder vs. Rockets: next meeting & early prediction

They meet again in Houston later in the winter. On neutral rest, the matchup leans toward whoever controls defensive rebounding and free-throw margin. Early lean: Thunder by one possession on late-game execution—unless Houston’s corner-three volume spikes, which flips the math.

Quick answers to your most-searched questions

“NBA scores today / NBA tonight?” Thunder 125–124 Rockets (2OT) headlined opening night; check the league app for all finals.
“Where to watch Rockets vs Thunder?” Your national partner or the league’s streaming service; in-market on the team network/app.
“OKC schedule / Rockets schedule?” See team pages and the league app; Rockets host Fri, Thunder play Thu.
“SGA / Şengün stats?” SGA 35, Şengün 39 & 11; both logged heavy crunch-time usage.
“KD?” 23 & 9 in his Rockets debut; fouled out late in 2OT.

Ring night didn’t rattle Houston, but clutch SGA and a few decisive stops kept the banners flying in OKC. Circle the rematch—this rivalry just leveled up.