OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City Thunder fans got everything they wanted Tuesday night -- a ring ceremony, a championship banner unveiling and a win over ex-Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, hit two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the Thunder a 125-124 win. Last season's scoring champion had just five points at halftime but finished with 35.
Durant, 37, fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with the Rockets leading 124-123 in the second extra period. The crowd cheered gleefully as Durant exited the game with his sixth personal foul. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws for the decisive points. Houston's Jabari Smith Jr. missed a 19-foot jumper as time expired, and the Thunder survived in the season opener for both teams.
Thunder fans still haven't forgiven Durant for leaving the Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors, their biggest rival, back in 2016. Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds in his first game with Houston after being traded in the offseason. He was booed loudly during pregame starter introductions and that continued for much of the game.
Chet Holmgren added 28 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder. Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, a first-time All-Star last season, sat out as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury he sustained last season. He had surgery on July 1, and Coach Mark Daigneault said he is "progressing."
Alperen Sengun had 39 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets.
Gilgeous-Alexander's short jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 104-104. Sengun missed a fadeaway at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
With the score tied at 115-115 in the closing seconds of the first overtime, Gilgeous-Alexander missed and Durant rebounded and tried to call a timeout that the Rockets didn't have. The Thunder noticed and tried to alert the officials, but no call was made and the game went to a second overtime.
Oklahoma City beat the Indiana Pacers in the Finals last season to win their first title since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2008. The Thunder won it all after a 68-14 regular season that earned them homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the crowd before awarding rings to Thunder chairman Clay Bennett and team president Sam Presti. After that, the players came through a tunnel one by one, first hugging Silver, then Presti before receiving their rings from Bennett.
Gilgeous-Alexander was the last to receive his ring. He received M-V-P chants as he stood in the tunnel in the moments before he stepped onto the court. After he received his box, he opened it, looked at the ring and shimmied before joining his teammates.
The rings, designed by Jostens, are set in 14-karat gold with more than 800 custom-cut, hand-set gemstones.
The top of the rings have the letters OKC in diamonds on top of the team's shield with the championship trophy outlined in gold around it. Forty-six taper-cut genuine blue sapphires encircle the logo. The rings have the letters NBA on the upper part of the front in diamonds with a gold background and the word champions on the lower part, also in diamonds with a gold background.
The rings have a ring within a ring feature, allowing recipients to wear the inner band as an alternative to the outer ring. There are 94 diamonds along the top and bottom edges of the inner band with the player's signature engraved and their jersey number in diamonds. The numbers of each teammate wraps around the band.
The outer palm side of the main ring includes a tribute to the Gates of Time and the Reflecting Pool at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
After the rings were handed out, the championship banner was raised.
The stars from last year's team -- Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren -- signed extensions with the Thunder in the offseason. Daigneault and most of the coaching staff return to make Oklahoma City one of the favorites again.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, right, tries to grab the ball next to Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, right, tries to grab the ball next to Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) looks to shoot over Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) looks to shoot over Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)