- Chet came out fuming. Seven consecutive marks to start. Thirteen of OKC’s first 15 points. He looked calm, confident and surgical. If the Thunder get a Chet like that all season, along with the reigning MVP and Jalen Williams, watch out.
- Chet vs. Sengun was a heavyweight fight. Sengun (39-11-7) was an absolute beast and took care of Houston all night. This felt like a future All-Star matchup between two rising stars.
- SGA is the MVP. With only five points at halftime, SGA kept OKC in the game by dropping 30 after halftime. Shai also hit several clutch baskets, including a jump shot to send the game to OT and the game-winning free throws in the second OT.
- The timeout that wasn’t. With 2.2 seconds left in the first OT, Kevin Durant clearly motioned for a timeout (and even verbally called for it), and Houston had none. Officials missed it and claimed no one saw the signal. Come on man. It should have been a technology that likely would have given the Thunder the win in the first OT.
- Refs under the microscope all night. Fans criticized the crew for missing travel calls, ticky-tack violations on Holmgren and inconsistent whistles during drives. Houston thought Shai was getting “star calls.” OKC thought Chet was getting no respect. Chet eventually fouled, Isaiah Hartenstein later, and Kevin Durant was the last to be sent to the bench with six fouls. The whistles were rough.
- Free throws ruin almost everything. OKC went 20-for-25, but dropped points everywhere – SGA in particular had an unusually tough night at the line, with a score of 10-14, including some FTs in the late game that fortunately did not cost OKC the match. Daigneault said after the game that “closing possessions includes the line.”
- Ajay Mitchell could be something. After a stellar rookie year cut short by injuries, the talk of Mitchell turned to whether he could be that bench ballhandler. After one game, the answer may be yes. Ajay went 6-12 with 16 points off the bench and a four-point play that turned the momentum around before halftime.
- Cason will be a difference maker again. Wallace played 42 minutes, scored 14 points, including 3-8 from deep, and added 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Dude was a consistent force, hitting an absolutely huge three with 1:32 to go in the second OT.
- Caruso’s rough debut. 3-for-9 from the field, two turnovers and a team-worst -15. I blame it on a wedding hangover.
- Lead changes in abundance. 22 lead changes, 12 ties. Biggest lead in Houston: 12. Biggest lead over OKC: 6. The kind of opener that reminds you the NBA marathon starts with a sprint. We deserved both overtimes (easier to say now that the Thunder won).
3 Key Takeaways
1. Chet seems primed for superstardom
Can’t say enough about Holmgren. He was looking for his opportunity, and early on he was cooking. OKC appears poised to have three All-Stars.
2. The whistle almost decided this match.
Definitely some missed calls, but after Chet fouled out in 1OT and Holmgren in 2OT, the game almost went to Houston. OKC is a physical team, especially defensively, but if the Thunder’s two stars are in foul trouble on a regular basis, defending the championship will become a lot more difficult.
3. Champions find a way.
OKC didn’t play perfectly. Far from it. They hit threes, missed free throws and nearly got burned by a no-call. But when it counted, they stayed focused, made winning plays and, you know, had the best player on the field. Sounds familiar.
#Thunder #Rockets #2OT #Day #report