Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Rockets fold in OKC on opening night

The Rockets let their chance to upset ring night for the champs slip through their grasp and it took two overtime periods to get there. It didn’t matter that the bonuses they got were 3-point production from players not known for their marksmanship, and their second opportunities resulted in easy baskets. Kevin Durant was OKC’s second-best player late.

But that was a turnaround. KD feasted in the first half as he was booed, maneuvering for jumpers and kickouts as smoothly as a ballerina alone in a studio. But he missed a critical free throw with 9.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Then he was spared by the refs, with them ignoring a timeout he was calling when Houston had none while tied, which should have been free throws for OKC. He followed up by bouncing the ball off his foot, failing to get it. Next, he ensured OKC got the ball back after a loose ball foul. And with the Rockets up one in the second overtime, he bit on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s pump fake and put him on the line for two, coughing up the game.

Alperen Şengün’s masterclass, turning into Turk Nowitzki with 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven helpings, was wasted, and Amen Thompson was subbed out late because of a leg injury after slicing to the cylinder for three baskets in the fourth. To pile on, Houston left Chet Holmgren unbothered at the arc for two trifectas in the first overtime, forgetting he’d pieced them up in the first half from the outside. He eventually fouled out, getting replaced by Alex Caruso, but OKC still kept a top-grade defender on the floor.

Keep in mind that the Thunder were without Jalen Williams’ firepower against Houston’s massive rotation. They hung around until SGA erupted in the fourth quarter, scoring seven of his 12 baskets between then and the last extra period, and they demonstrated championship form when they needed to.

The Rockets’ lack of a real-deal point guard because Fred VanVleet tore his ACL in September stung harder than anticipated. Despite FVV’s size, he is not as exploitable as second-year guard Reed Sheppard. The point of attack was compromised when Thompson was out.

The Thunder became the sixth squad in NBA history to win a double overtime season opener, and the first since 2005. Houston took a good shot to send a message on night one and missed. Until further notice, they’re a cut below the champs.