In a display of sheer willpower and basketball brilliance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a performance for the ages on October 24, 2025, as the Oklahoma City Thunder edged out the Indiana Pacers 141–135 after two grueling overtimes. With the echoes of last season’s NBA Finals still fresh, both teams once again proved they’re cut from the same cloth, battling through 58 minutes where neither side ever led by more than seven points. If you thought this early-season rematch would be a quiet affair, think again!
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, was simply unstoppable. He poured in a career-high 55 points, the most he’s ever scored in a single game, and added another chapter to his rapidly growing legend. His offensive onslaught included a remarkable 23 made free throws out of 26 attempts, showcasing his ability to draw contact and keep the scoreboard ticking even when defenses keyed in on him. According to Noah Rubin’s postgame analysis, "Gilgeous-Alexander’s epic performance was the driving force behind the Thunder’s win in this Finals rematch."
The Thunder’s win didn’t come easy. They were missing a slew of key players: Jalen Williams, recovering from offseason wrist surgery, as well as Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Nikola Topic, Kenrich Williams, and Thomas Sorber. Yet, Oklahoma City refused to make excuses. As Gilgeous-Alexander put it postgame, "This team never makes excuses. It’s always ready for their moment. We saw guys step into the light and make big plays."
Indeed, it was a true team effort behind their star. Aaron Wiggins contributed 23 points and nine rebounds, while A. J. Mitchell came off the bench to notch a career-high 26 points. Their contributions were especially crucial with so many regulars sidelined. The Thunder’s resilience was on full display, with Gilgeous-Alexander noting, "This team does a really good job of two things: being in the moment... and also understanding the beginning of the season is just as important as the end of the season. The difference in home court advantage in the playoffs could be one game and one win."
The Pacers, themselves without All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, were hardly passive participants. Benedict Mathurin and Pascal Siakam combined for a staggering 68 points, keeping Indiana neck-and-neck with the Thunder all night. Siakam, in particular, provided a heart-stopping moment as regulation wound down. With seven seconds left and the Thunder clinging to a 113–111 lead, Siakam coolly stepped back and drained a 22-foot jumper, sending Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a frenzy and forcing the first overtime.
If the first extra period was tense, the second was downright electric. Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a decisive step-back jumper with 26.4 seconds left in the first overtime to put the Thunder up by two, but the Pacers responded—Mathurin’s 36th point tied the contest at 124 with just 13 seconds to play. The drama was far from over. As the second overtime ticked away, a controversial timeout was granted to Oklahoma City with 22.1 seconds left and the Thunder up 139–135. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was visibly frustrated, believing his team had secured a critical steal. After the game, Carlisle told reporters, "I’m not talking about the referees. If we talk about the referees, I’m facing a huge fine." He added, "They just kept coming to the free-throw line. When that happens, the pace of the game slows down. It makes it harder to get quality looks."
With the game on the line, Gilgeous-Alexander was fouled and calmly knocked down two free throws, finally sealing the win for Oklahoma City. It marked the Thunder’s second straight double-overtime victory to start the season, making them the first team in NBA history to open a campaign with back-to-back wins in two overtimes. It’s a feat that speaks volumes about their tenacity and depth, even as they battle through a depleted roster.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s heroics aren’t just a flash in the pan. Through the first two games, he’s tallied a staggering 90 points—more than any Thunder player has ever scored to start a season. That puts him in rarefied air, joining NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Anthony Davis as the only players in league history to post at least 90 points over the first two games of a season. He’s also averaged 45 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block per game, shooting 47% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line, while leading the league in free throw attempts. And let’s not forget: he’s done all this while logging a league-high 93 minutes in just two games.
It wasn’t just the numbers, though. Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership and poise under pressure were evident throughout. He scored double-digit points in three of the four regulation quarters, then poured in 15 more across the two overtime frames. His ability to shoulder the offensive load, especially with the Thunder’s offense sputtering at times, was nothing short of superhuman. As he reflected after the game, "Playing back-to-back double overtime games is a good way to break the ice on the season." He added, "Not perfect, four extra overtimes in two games, but we’ll take the two wins."
While Oklahoma City fans eagerly await the return of their missing stars, there’s no question that Gilgeous-Alexander is putting on a show worthy of the MVP trophy sitting on his mantle. His blend of mid-range artistry, rim attacks, and foul-drawing savvy has given the Thunder the spark they needed to weather this early-season storm. And with role players like Wiggins and Mitchell stepping up, there’s every reason to believe this team can keep pace with the NBA’s elite, even as the marathon season unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Pacers can hold their heads high. Despite the loss and the absence of Haliburton, they pushed the Thunder to the brink and showed the kind of grit that will serve them well as the season progresses. Siakam and Mathurin’s combined 68 points were a testament to their offensive firepower, and the team’s refusal to back down in the face of adversity bodes well for their playoff ambitions.
Elsewhere on Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors also grabbed headlines, outlasting the Denver Nuggets 137–131 in overtime behind Stephen Curry’s 42-point outburst. But there’s no question: the spotlight belongs to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have opened the season in historic, heart-pounding fashion.
As the dust settles on this instant classic, one thing is clear: the Thunder, led by their MVP, are determined to make every game count—no matter how many overtimes it takes.
