The Rockets (3-2) entered Saturday with a top-rated offense and below-average defense, but their win in Boston showed elite play on both ends.

“We came ready to play, but we got popped tonight,” Payton Pritchard said. “So move on, get ready for the next one. I don’t even know if there is a takeaway of this game. I think you just kind of turn the page. They just punked us, and you gotta get ready for the next one.”

The OKC Thunder and the Houston Rockets opened the 2025-26 NBA season on Tuesday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Tuesday's opening night also included the ring ceremony for the reigning champion Thunder. OKC began its title defense against the retooled Rockets, which finished at No. 2 in the Western Conference behind the Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have opened the 2025-26 NBA season with a wild 125-124 win in double overtime over the Houston Rockets.

That said, a 40-year-old LeBron James will miss the Lakers' opener against the Warriors. The four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champ is dealing with sciatica and is reportedly eying a mid-November return. James' early-season absence could set the stage for the beginning of a Dončić MVP campaign.

The Rockets nearly beat the defending champion Thunder in their season opener, and I like their big lineup in this matchup with the Pistons. Alperen Sengun had a monster night against Oklahoma City, and can hit his PRA total without coming close to that level of production.

Kevin Durant explained why offense is more valuable to winning championships than defense ahead of the Rockets' 2025-26 season.

The Rockets and the Raptors are set to play each other in the upcoming NBA 2025-26 season game. Here is all about the schedule. Date, time, live stream and more.