The energy in the Paycom Center is always wild, but it reached new heights as the Thunder celebrated their first title.

Like so many basketball dynasties of the past, the Thunder have a "Big 3" of superstars ready to take the court.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with an efficient 35 points. Chet Holmgren stepped up for 28 points and seven rebounds. Cason Wallace had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Ajay Mitchell scored 16 points off the bench.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, including two from the free-throw line with 2.3 seconds remaining in double overtime, lifting the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 125-124 home win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday in the season opener.

Oklahoma City Thunder fans are ready for Tuesday night’s season opener. The defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder enter the new 2025-26 season with more championship aspirations as they look to go back-to-back.

It's finally arrived. Almost four months after they won the 2025 NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder held a pregame ceremony. Per tradition, they had the first game of the 2025-26 regular season on Opening Night.

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the season as defending champions. Here are five teams that can deny them a repeat title.

This article originally published at Kevin Durant receives another rude welcome in Oklahoma City return.