Kevin Durant’s Timeout Blunder Causes Controversy in Rockets-Thunder Game

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — In a dramatic NBA season opener on Tuesday, Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant faced a tense moment against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game, held at Paycom Center, was tied at 115 with only 4.7 seconds left in overtime.

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his potential game-winning shot blocked, giving Durant possession with mere seconds on the clock. In a desperate attempt to secure one last shot for the Rockets, Durant called for a timeout. However, the Rockets had already exhausted their timeouts.

The referees did not acknowledge Durant’s call, despite it typically leading to an automatic technical foul. This oversight meant the Thunder should have been granted a technical free throw with almost a second remaining.

Players and head coach Mark Daigneault of the Thunder protested the missed call, but their appeals did not change the outcome. Ultimately, the Thunder won the tightly contested match 125-124, a score that brought speculation that they would have won regardless if the technical foul had been called.

Durant escaped severe embarrassment before his former fan base, while the officials, perhaps still adjusting to the new season, faced criticism for their oversight.