Overview
- Oklahoma City beat Houston 125–124 in double overtime after a pregame ring ceremony, starting the title defense with a home win.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and hit two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in the second overtime to seal the result.
- Houston’s Alperen Şengün posted 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, while Kevin Durant’s Rockets debut produced 23 points and nine boards.
- In San Francisco, the Warriors defeated the Lakers 119–109, with Jimmy Butler scoring 31 points as LeBron James sat out with a sciatic issue and Luka Dončić starred in defeat with a near triple-double.
- This season introduces an expanded Emirates NBA Cup, Wilson game balls with embedded chips for real-time data, a three-team All-Star format, and a stat rule encouraging end-of-period heaves.