The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets were just about set for double overtime in the 2025-26 NBA season opener on Tuesday night when Kevin Durant tried to call a timeout he didn’t have. Durant signaled for a timeout after a defensive rebound as time ticked away on the first overtime with the score tied. If the refs would have recognized Durant’s timeout, it would have been a technical foul, and the Thunder would be shooting free throws for the win.
The refs didn’t see it. After a brief huddle and some commotion out of the Thunder benched, the refs confirmed no timeout was called … because they didn’t recognize it. The Thunder beat the Rockets in double-overtime, 125-124, but Oklahoma City would have the right to be very upset about this if the game ended in a loss.
Watch Durant call for timeout here. It’s clear as day.
Durant clearly signals for timeout with just over one second remaining on the clock. If you look closely, you will see that teammate Jabari Smith Jr. was also calling timeout, hoping the Rockets could advance the ball for one last possession. Instead, they’re insanely lucky the refs didn’t see him, because it would have been an even more embarrassing loss for Houston.
The Chris Webber comparisons were made immediately. Webber famously called a timeout he didn’t have in the 1993 national championship game between Michigan and North Carolina in men’s college basketball. UNC got free throws out of Webber’s mistake, and won the national championship. The memes were there immediately.
Durant finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on 9-of-16 shooting from the floor in his Rockets debut. Teammate Alperen Sengun was spectacular for Houston, finishing with 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Alas, the Thunder are inevitable, even when Jalen Williams is hurt, they shoot only 25 percent from three, and the refs accidentally cost them an easy win at the end of overtime,
The first game of the season and the return to NBC were both fantastic. It feels so good to have the NBA back.
