Alperen Şengün makes NBA history as OKC edges Rockets in double-OT thriller
Alperen Şengün led a furious Houston Rockets upset bid on the Thunder's Championship ring night, making NBA history as the youngest big man ever to post a stat line of 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ three-pointers made. Despite Şengün's phenomenal 39-point effort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 24 points in the final frame and overtimes, sinking the final free throws to secure a narrow 125-124 double-overtime win for the reigning champion Thunder.
The Oklahoma City Thunder capped off their Championship ring ceremony with an unexpected double-overtime thriller, barely surviving a huge upset bid from the Houston Rockets to win 125-124. The night belonged to the reigning champions, but the spotlight was shared with Rockets star Alperen Şengün, who delivered a historic individual performance that nearly spoiled the festivities.
Read More ›
Şengün's historic performance undone by SGA
Alperen Şengün was the driving force behind the Rockets, pouring in a game-high 39 points and adding 11 rebounds. More impressively, the big man made five three-pointers, a career high, in a performance that etched his name into the record books. Şengün became the youngest big man in NBA history to record a game with 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ three-pointers made.
The 31-year-old put the Rockets ahead late in regulation with a short turnaround jumper, but the Thunder's reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), answered immediately. SGA scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and continued his dominance through the two overtime periods, where his 24 points ultimately saved the game for Oklahoma City.
Read More ›
Bu gönderiyi Instagram'da gör
With the game tied late in double-overtime, Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on former Thunder star Kevin Durant (who tallied 23 points and 9 rebounds in his Rockets debut) and calmly sank two free throws with 2.3 seconds left to seal the 125-124 victory.
Chaos and controversy...
The emotional night, which included the raising of the Thunder's second-ever championship banner, was filled with drama and controversy.
A major missed call occurred at the end of the first overtime when Durant, out of timeouts, clearly tried to call a timeout after rebounding Gilgeous-Alexander's missed shot. Had the officials seen it, the Thunder would have been awarded a technical foul shot and a chance to win. "Kevin definitely called timeout about three times, verbally and physically with his hands," Gilgeous-Alexander said, though he quickly moved on, adding, "that’s just how things go."
Despite the near misses from the Rockets and the controversy, the Thunder managed a crucial win to kick off their title defense, showcasing the same competitive grit that defined their historic 68-win season last year. Chet Holmgren also impressed with 28 points, despite the team missing All-NBA performer Jalen Williams due to wrist surgery.
"It was super fun though. Seeing the banner raised was cool too," Gilgeous-Alexander said of the "surreal" night. "Knowing that it’ll be up there forever. And we are the first group to bring the city a championship is a pretty special feeling.”
