🔗 Share this article

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored the winning points deep into double overtime as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their NBA title defense with a narrow victory over the Houston Rockets.

Last season's MVP scored a team-high 35 points, including two from the free-throw line with just mere seconds remaining in the second overtime, securing the champions a winning beginning.

The Rockets' big man led all scorers with 39 points and also connected on a career-high five shots from beyond the arc.

But Chet Holmgren, who added 28 points of his own, was instrumental alongside the game's hero.

"Determination and defence," Gilgeous-Alexander commented of their performance. "We know that when we execute defensively we give ourselves a opportunity no matter what's going on—shots, missed attempts, fortune or bad luck. We did enough defence to get the win. We're pretty rusty, but it's a positive beginning."

Before the tip-off, the team's championship banner was raised at their home court, while the players were awarded their championship rings.

The Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in the previous season's best-of-seven NBA Finals. It was their first title since the team relocated in 2008 to Oklahoma City from Seattle, who had won the 1979 crown.

Indiana will have the chance to secure some early revenge on this Friday when they host Oklahoma, while the Houston are back on court on the same day at the Pistons.

Elsewhere, a massive performance of 43 points, 12 boards and nine assists from the Slovenian star was not enough to stop his current team the Los Angeles Lakers from falling to a 119-109 loss against the Golden State Warriors.

Miami's star picked up 31 points and Stephen Curry chipped in 23 points for the visiting Warriors.

The Lakers were without the NBA's all-time leading scorer LeBron James as he recovers from a back issue.