Gilgeous-Alexander's winning FTs put bow on Thunder's ring night - ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY — The symbolism didn't strike Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the moment as the clock ticked down in the second overtime of Tuesday night's season opener against the Houston Rockets.

His sole focus was on trying to figure out a way to score the winning points, not on the fact Kevin Durant was defending him. The superstar matchup in the deciding moments of a thrilling season opener probably wasn't lost on the Paycom Center sellout crowd, which spent the night booing Durant and celebrating Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder teammates after finally watching a championship banner raised to the rafters.

«Just trying to get to a shot I'm comfortable shooting in those moments,» Gilgeous-Alexander said. «My brain is so in the moment that all those things I don't even realize.»

Gilgeous-Alexander, instead of creating a clean look, got Durant to bite on a pump fake and foul him. The reigning MVP sank both free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining, capping a 35-point performance to lift the defending champions to a 125-124 win. Gilgeous-Alexander also spoiled Durant's debut with the Rockets, his fourth team since his free agency departure from the Thunder that is still a sore subject in Oklahoma City more than nine years later.

Gilgeous-Alexander described the pregame ceremony to celebrate last season's championship as «surreal.» Durant and the Rockets retreated to the visitors' locker room as the Thunder received their championship rings — featuring more than 800 custom-cut, hand-set diamonds and gemstones — before raising the championship banner alongside the center scoreboard.

«It felt like it was going up for 10 minutes,» Gilgeous-Alexander said. «It was an amazing moment. I'll remember it for the rest of my